THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE or THE SLAVE OF DUTY to 1 March 2008
lONDON.
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE or THE SLAVE OF DUTY
music by Arthur Sullivan book and lyrics by W S Gilbert.
Gielgud Theatre To 1 March 2008.
Mon-Sat 7:30 Mat Wed & Sat 2:30pm.
Runs 2hr 10 min One interval.
TICKETS: 0844 482 5130.
www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 20 February 2008.
A fitting finale for this finest, timeless operetta.
The magnificence of this Gilbert and Sullivan is that they take you away from the realism that can hamper modern entertainment and reawaken, here, a fantastical and farcical land of pirates, duty and the very highest of morals, a world unsullied by cynicism or any semblance of reality.
Set on a rock-strewn Cornish beach, Pirates shows our hero Frederic (David Curry) coming of age and able to leave his indentured service on a pirate ship. A situation he found himself in due to his hard of hearing Nanny, Ruth (Beverley Klein) who was instead asked to place him into the service of a Pilot.
Able to leave, that is, until, typically, Gilbert weaves a twisting plot, speckled with surprises which I’ll not spoil.
Curry’s Frederic is every bit the dashing pirate from the outset and, abandoning his lifelong companion on discovering, contrary to what she’s always told him, she’s old and plain, he charms a dozen young ladies and, indeed, an audience. Steven Page as The Pirate King, susceptible to the pleas of any orphan, swashes buckles, fences and thrills again and again; Barry Clark’s Model of the Modern Major-General never quite hits the staccato required for his wit-strewn number but bumbles pleasingly on nevertheless.
Deborah Myers’ Mabel gradually warms into her operatic and enchanting numbers, seeming to revel in the gifts Gilbert and Sullivan shower on the role. Unfortunately Jo Brand plays Jo Brand in a policeman’s uniform as the Sergeant, but even her lack of baritone, or any tone, is partially tempered by her deadpan delivery and self-conscious absurdity.
As in the other two Gilbert and Sullivans in Carl Rosa Opera’s Gielgud Theatre season, the chorus repeatedly lift the heart and emphasise the inherent sense of fun. They have been a consistent delight throughout all these productions. Michael Kerry, Sophie-Louise Dann, Lesley Cox and Victoria Ward shine amongst an excellent cast, helping produce this fun evening’s ode to Victorian duty. Pirates is the last in the Carl Rosa season and even while this production occasionally lacks melodically, it is always sufficient fun.
Major-General Stanley: Barry Clark.
The Pirate King: Steven Page.
Samuel: Michael Kerry.
Frederic: David Curry.
Sergeant of Police: Jo Brand.
Mabel: Deborah Myers.
Edith: Sophie-Louise Dann.
Kate: Lesley Cox.
Isabel: Victoria Ward.
Ruth: Beverley Klein.
Chorus of Pirates, Police and Major Stanley's Daughters:
Amy Pedwell, Betsy Pennington, Curtis Dabek, David Furnell, Francesca Ellis, Fred Broom, Jane Quinn, Martin Milnes, Melanie Lodge, Michael Kerry, Ross Finnie, Ted Schmitz, Toby Hunt, Peter Willcock, Humphrey Berney, Deborah Crowe, Anna Lowe, Carmen Vass, David Faulds, Ian Caddick.
Direcor/Designer: Peter Mulloy.
Conductor: Richard Balcombe.
Choreographer: Steve Elias.
2008-02-25 00:24:38