HMS Pinafore

St Andrew’s Operatic Society’s recent production of HMS Pinafore, or The Lass that loved a sailor, was a testament to the enduring appeal of Gilbert & Sullivan, delivered with both vocal and musical excellence. The group are celebrating their 80th year in style, with many celebrations taking place and a revisit to an old favourite which was the first production by the group back in 1946 and the eight time it has been performed! A real effort had been made in the foyer of the hall to beautifully display the groups history and past productions, along with a display of the production team and their success in various prior NODA awards evening which is lovely to see.

The ensemble’s singing was consistently strong throughout, with soloists and chorus alike demonstrating clarity, precision, and a keen sense of style befitting the operetta. The orchestra, comprising an impressive 17 musicians, provided a well-balanced and vibrant accompaniment, enhancing the performance and adding depth to the musical numbers as has come to be expected under the expert baton of Musical Director Ken Matthews.  The control and precision of his music is consistently impressive and really on a much higher level than the majority of the groups performing in the current day.

It was also lovely to see some new fresh faces on stage.  Attracting new members is difficult for us all and as such it was wonderful to see new faces to the group in Janine, Vanessa, Emma, Zoe, Craig, Howard, Robert and Rishabh.  Welcome to this lovely group!

The cast of characters were played by Robert Stevenson as the rt Hon Sir Joseph Porter KCB; Richard Straw as Captain Corcoran; Rishabh Kishore as Ralph Rackstraw; Edward Bradshaw as Dick Deadeye; Paul Blakey as Bob Becket; Andrew Cunningham as Bill Bobstay; Daisy Bradshaw as Josephine; Bernadette Trotter as Cousin Hebe; Glynda Blackburn as Sister Myrtle; Susan Antcliff as Aunt Briar and Anna Maria McCloskey as Little Buttercup. All performed very well in their respective roles and sounded fabulous.

In typical G&S fashion, the plot is filled with mirth and humour poking fun at patriotism, positions of authority and party politics.  I must admit to finding the plot a little harder to follow than I have in some prior productions, but HMS Pinafore has enjoyed remarkable popularity generally and the lovely full audience certainly appreciated it.  This production I’m shown as set on the HM (Air) S Pinafore and there was some subtle amended references from the nautical version as written.

While the society’s commitment to traditional G&S is commendable, there are opportunities for constructive development. To attract new members and broaden audiences, embracing modernisation—whether through innovative staging, updated staging and choreography, or creative outreach—could further help keep Gilbert & Sullivan’s works relevant in today’s theatrical landscape. The English National Opera are currently reviving HMS Pinafore and taking inspiration from a fresh innovative outlook may well seek dividends. Such steps would ensure the society’s continued vitality and success, securing the legacy of these productions for future generations.

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