The Pirates of Penzance

Kirkcaldy G&S Society’s choice of “The Pirates of Penzance” must surely rank amongst the top three or four in audiences G&S favourites – and quite rightly so!

This evening we were treated to a fine – almost exclusively traditional – production of Pirates. Brief mention of Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore (the operetta premiered before Pirates) near the top of the show, introduced us to a swashbuckling gents’ chorus led by a lively, fine-voiced Pirate King (Ross Main). In close succession we meet Frederic the Pirate Apprentice (Nick Temperley) and Ruth a Pirate Maid of all Work (Frances Taylor). It was, first of all a pleasure to see a Frederic who was a believable twenty-one year old, and, secondly, to listen to a character-full Ruth, whose opening number explains away some of Gilbert’s contrived plot of the opera.

The ladies chorus enter and, like the gents, are a credit to the Society in their ensemble singing – even taking in to account a very slight glitch in “Dry the Glistening Tear”! Our two lady minor principals Edith (Caroline Warburton) and Kate (Hâle Denholm) both achieved sparkling performances before the arrival to the stage of Mabel (Jilly Martin) who has the daunting task of opening with perhaps the best known of Sullivan’s soprano arias “Poor Wandering One”. This Jilly achieved with consummate ease!  Next we meet Major General Stanley (Robin Ożóg), his patter song drawing well deserved, encore-inducing, applause from the small but appreciative audience.   Having known Robin some years ago in his lead tenor mode, it is no less welcome to hear him in the baritone patter roles which he takes on so readily nowadays.

In Act Two we meet two characters not mentioned so far. The Pirate King’s Lieutenant, Samuel (Brian Shaw) and The Sergeant of Police (Dave Smith).    Yes indeed, Samuel did have a couple of verses in the opening number of the show, but here, in Act Two he sings a verse while off-loading a bag of props to the Gents’ chorus.  In both cases Brian did a grand job and good to see him back in another minor principal role with the Society.  As the larger than life Sergeant of Police, Dave Smith returns to the role which, Dave tells us, “is his favourite character in all the G&S operettas”!  This was a traditional take on the character, and was a pleasure to hear.  We are soon to be entertained by the double chorus of Pirates and Policemen – not an easy task when you only have twelve men in the chorus! Nonetheless, this was successfully achieved this evening!

In all aspects, the show was well directed by Robin Ożóg and the orchestra performed well under the baton of John Howden.

I felt the sets worked extremely well in this show, and the costumes even more so.  Nice seeing the ladies wearing Edwardian crinolines as one would expect in The Pirates of Penzance.

All-in-all a well-performed traditional performance.

Many thanks for the invite to your production!

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