HMS Pinafore and Other Infernal Nonsense!

HMS Pinafore the first comic opera by William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan to become an international sensation opened at the Opera Comique in London on 25 May 1878. It ran for 571 performances. Like many works from this famous collaboration, issues raised and mocked at all those years ago seem to be equally relevant today.

It was 15 years later when, following a meeting, Worcester Operatic Society was formed and their first production HMS Pinafore was performed in Worcester on 30 and 31 May 1892.

Fast forward 125 years and almost 200 shows and Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society performed HMS Pinafore and other infernal nonsense to capacity houses. This was indeed a fitting tribute to the societies long history.

The staging of the show was as one would expect on the deck of the good ship HMS Pinafore under the command of Captain Corcoran.  The 20-piece orchestra under the direction of Sheila Bratt were centre stage with the acting and singing taking place around them. This was a well-conceived idea and worked well. The orchestra gave a quality performance throughout and were well balanced with the singing.

The story of HMS Pinafore is well known and this production kept to tradition which was appropriate. The comic opera has nine principal parts plus the traditional chorus of sisters, cousins and aunts and sailors.   In addition, were the HMS Pinafore Choir who joined in the main chorus numbers from upstage as a choral society referring to printed words or music.

Andrew Rawle as the Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter KCB (First Lord of the Admiralty and promoted well above his ability) was simply outstanding in both his acting and singing. He delivered ‘When I was a Lad’ with gusto and the humor needed for the role. His characterisation and stance was good especially the interest he portrayed in some of the sailors!

There was strong singing from Kimberley Kainey who although rather young played the part of Little Buttercup well. Equally fine singing came from Chris Holloway as Ralph Rackstaw. Add to the lineup Michael Staiger as Captain Corcoran and Lynsey Squair as Josephine.

Our ‘villain’ Dick Deadeye played by John Clay who in strong voice gave us ‘Kind Captain I have important information’ along with Staiger. The ever popular ‘Never mind the why and wherefore’ was well performed.

Special mention must be made to Holloway, Keith Snaiham as the Boatswain and Eliott Kainey as the Boatswain’s mate for their singing of ‘A British tar’.

The chorus line up in costume at the back of the stage gave strong vocal support to the action being portrayed by the principal characters.  There were times however when their engagement with action on stage could have been greater and their interest appear more in evidence. This though is a small point indeed.

The costumes were of a good standard especially those of the sisters, cousins and aunts who although were individual all matched.

Before the commence of the traditional act two we were treated to the ‘other infernal nonsense’ mentioned in the show title.   Sir Joseph Porter KCB had arranged a charity benefit concert on behalf of Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society on board ship. We saw seven performances ranging for solo numbers, a duet and song and dance routines all of which were to a good standard. Noteworthy were ‘Has Anybody Seen Our Ship’ with Abbi Jakeman and Laura Fullelove, a solo by Chloe Earl and the extract from Sweeny Todd and Anything Goes.    

The 125 birthday celebrations concluded with the audience clapping along to the Sailor’s Hornpipe and singing along with Kimberley Kainey in a fine rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’ complete with union flags.

Productions by Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society are always well received and rightfully so. The ordinal founders of the society would be proud to see and hear the quality theatre this group bring to the amateur stage. I wish the society well for the next 125 years and wonder what they will perform in the year 2142 for their 250th birthday.

Thank you for inviting me and I look forward to seeing you again for Made in Dagenham in October 2017.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.