The Pirates of Penzance was my first Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and still my favourite. Despite the silly story, the melodies are gorgeous and the lyrics witty. This production I did enjoy on the whole, it is not perfect and not as fun as the 1983 film or the 1994 production, but it is far better than the 1982 D'Oyly Carte performance(which was the second weakest of that series to me, only HMS Pinafore was weaker). There are problems I did have with this Pirates of Penzance, the picture quality could have been sharper, the policeman song When the Foeman Bares his Steel in Act 2 is poorly lit and not very funny sadly and while he sings with a lovely bass-baritone voice I found Jeffrey Black's performance of the Pirate King overdone, especially the clipped accent.
However, visually it is a traditional and very sumptuous looking production, Major General Stanley's daughters' dresses are especially gorgeous and true to period. The orchestral playing is suitably lively, and the conducting is efficient enough. The chorus are also fine, the pirates are a rousing lot and the policemen are not too under-pitch while the ladies are charming and well blended on the whole though rather nasal(I've never liked that sound in singing) in What Ought We to Do. Of the cast, the best was Reg Livermore as the Major General, a part he performs with terrific gusto. Not only does he sing the fiendishly difficult pattering in I'm A Making of a Modern Major General perfectly, but puts some inspired physical acting in it too.
Michael Terry's Frederic is dashing and beautifully sung, especially in Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast, and Sharon Prero's Mabel is equally charming, her Bel-Canto-like colouratura for Poor Wandering One has the agility it should. Elizabeth Campbell is a sympathetic Ruth, Bradley Daley seems to be enjoying himself as Samuel and Conan Coad is at least serviceable as the sergeant. Of the sisters, I was especially taken with Bette Opitz's Edith, her mezzo is really beautifully produced. Barbara Frater's Kate is also well sung if not as impressive, and she has an infectious personality in Climbing Over Rocky Mountains.
Overall, a well done Pirates of Penzance. 7/10 Bethany Cox
