HMS Pinafore

Tettenhall Operatic Company’s loyal followers packed the hall; there was a buzz of excitement evident from the seated audience members, who clearly were looking forward to hearing live G and S music once more.

Taking on a work that has been performed so many times in many ways is not an easy task, but both the cast and the chorus had clearly worked hard to deliver a unique concert, covering the entire score, produced by Julian Souter. While we boarded the HMS Pinafore, we soon became aware of the characters and the story, narrated in tandem by the capable Vi Hurdley and Jane Souter projected with appropriate intonation and in animated fashion to help maintain our focus on the tale.

The strength of the delivery from the principal roles made the evening sail full speed ahead. The supporting chorus of misfit sailors, and the ladies they encounter, were a true team who blended harmoniously to provide a magnificent delivery of choral numbers.

In Act 1 the waltz tune, “I’m called Little Buttercup,” introduces the character as she, ( Janette Clough) comes on board to sell her wares to the crew. With her fine voice, (which grew more confident as the performance progressed,) she hinted she may be hiding a dark secret, which was revealed at the end of the opera and led to a happy ending. Ralph Rackstraw, (Stephen Harper) entered Act 1 declaring his love for the captain’s daughter, Josephine, played by Sheila Smith. The central love story concerned these two characters who sang their way through the score melodically and with perfection.

The role of Captain Corcoran, suitably costumed, was so aptly adopted by Mac Hammond. His rich bass voice delivered word perfect quality performances of some of the well-known songs; his change of dialect when he became an ordinary seaman was indicative too of his talent as an overall performer. Paul Roberts presented a commanding character too, as Dick Deadeye who contended that when people must obey other people’s orders equality is out of the question. He certainly engaged the audience. Rob Mead as Sir Joseph Porter cut a very fitting naval officer, supported by his naval attire, stature and competence as a singer with a rich voice.

This was a concert and staged movements were unexpected and few, but there was some very simple choreography to accompany some tunes but space was limited, rendering any dance movements restrictive and appearing unrehearsed and awkward.

The score itself was handled superbly under the musical direction of Peter Smith, who kept the clarity of well known tunes with the clarity of the voices included in the brilliantly rousing chorus numbers.

The complexity of the music, the power with which the evening is presented and the  skill behind delivering the story, all resulted in a very successful voyage with Tettenhall Operatic Company. The audience enjoyed the evening.

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