The Pirates of Penzance

Synopsis

'The Pirates of Penzance (or the Slave of Duty)' is probably the most humorous of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, with tuneful melodies and well known songs, Poor Wandering One, I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General, The Sergeant of Police and Policeman's Chorus.

Our Review:

25 April 2001

The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company - inheritors of a tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan performance that stretches back to its namesake, the original producer of the team's shows who actually built the Savoy Theatre and the adjoining hotel on the profits he made from them - seem to have gone full-circle. Not only do they now have a permanent foothold again at the Savoy, after two Olivier Award nominated productions at that address last year (HMS Pinafore and The Mikado), but also in the scary combination of deadly reverence and enforced jollity that they apply to the works. It's the kind of thing you're forced to watch with a fixed grin on your face.

It's fashionable to sneer at G&S, and impossible not to at the ridiculous attention to detail of some of their more avid devotees. But for wit, tunefulness and sheer craft, these - the original British musical comedies - haven't been equalled in the succeeding century on this side of the Atlant...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 16 May 2001:

I actually left this show at the interval. Set, costumes, orchestra were all good, but the singing was no better than several amateur productions I've seen. Ruth acted well, but her singing technique was poor to say the least and I'd be surprised if anyone at the back could have heard a note in her mid to top range. Frederick was very weak, could hardly be heard over the orchestra and when he was heard the sound was most unappealing. I was very disappointed with this show and frankly felt cheated that these people are being paid to sing so badly. Men's and women's chorus were good though. Just as well....

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