The Pirates of Penzance

After a long hiatus, Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre finally brought their production of The Pirates of Penzance to the stage at the Daneside Theatre this week. Having first (and last) performed this show around the same age as the youth onstage (well over 20 years ago), this soundtrack brought back so many happy memories. Directed by NODA award winner Louise Colohan, this (Australian version) has much more humour in its script than I remember, which gave the various cast members their chance to showcase their comedic abilities. We were treated to a brilliant opening sequence, rather like the opening credits in a cinema experience. The Overture was played to the opening credits via the brilliant projections on the backdrop; this was a great touch. The projections (idea) and staging were similar to that of this societies last production and it whilst it would’ve been great to see something different, it really works in terms of a clean stage which aides seamless scene changes etc (If it ain’t broke…). It’s clear that a lot of hard work has gone into the humour, storyline and character development. I have to say, the physicality and acting ability of the main cast was excellent and one of the highlights for me. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the vocality of the cast. For me, there was a distinct lack of harmony and ability to sustain the melody. I really missed the tenor line also. Saying that, I could tell this this cast were the transition cast between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ members and this bodes well for the future of this society. Let’s be honest, this production is a hard sing and a hard sell and to do it with children as young as nine years old is no mean feat. I felt that everyone was well drilled, well-rehearsed and knew the emotion behind each song in every scene - no mean feat! I also liked the way in which the fourth wall was broken from the start and the way in which the band and MD were brought into scenes to aid comedic moments. Marilyn Blanks line delivery and comedy was brilliant.

Visually, this production was fab! I loved the costumes, which added a brilliant layer to each scene. I’m sure that a lot of hard work and time has gone into preparing costumes small enough to fit each cast member, whilst still being true to the production and the setting, and it was worthwhile – they looked excellent! Some of the lighting effects helped add layers to scenes also. I wasn’t particularly bowled over by the lighting design, but the stage was well lit, and each actor found their mark. The sound quality was great and there was a good blend between cast, band and audience.

For me, there was a distinct lack of musical direction from the MD, Marilyn Blank. This score showcases beautiful harmonies and the tongue-twisting ability to tell stories through song. For me, the singing was the weakest part of this musical. Perhaps I’m being a little harsh, maybe the cast weren’t able to perform the score due to voice breaking etc. There were some lovely moments throughout; however, the girls in particular were great, the songs with Mabel and the girls, were lovely, rhythmically and beautifully performed. The band sounded good throughout and I really enjoyed the way in which they were part of the action. The big thing that came across was that the cast were really enjoying themselves on-stage and making memories of a lifetime, so who cares what I think!

William Vickers played the role of The Pirate King. Despite singing as a bass, rather than the usual tenor, William’s charisma and acting ability more than made up for this. He was suitably charming and smarmy and was extremely well cast in this role. William’s performance was very laid back and effortless and his comedic skills were brilliant.

Frederic was played by Alex Wilson. Alex looked a little tentative in some of his songs and held back from fully committing to his singing. I feel that with more encouragement, his voice could be brilliant. I liked his characterisations, and he was commanding in this role as the juvenile lead.

Lucy Picken played the role of Fredric’s love interest, Mabel. Lucy’s voice was brilliant – the best onstage. I felt that her character was a little distant and she seemed somewhat underplayed, but vocally, Lucy sang her songs beautifully.

The Major General was brilliant played by Charlie House. Charlie did very well in ‘I Am A Very Model’ which is a hard sing. Whilst at times, the humour seemed a little too forced at times (which was uncomfortable), rather than being naturally funny, Charlie’s bravery and presence on stage meant that we loved him from his opening scene. I love actors who totally commit and give their all and Charlie is certainly one of those actors who leave everything on the stage.

Other notable performance were from Ellie Shirley’s ‘Ruth’ and James Castle’s ‘Police Sergeant’. Both were very well cast in these roles and gave brilliant performances. Ellie is a strong actress with a great singing voice and was great in this role. James was given his chance to shine in the second act and was brilliantly funny and he performed ‘When A Felon’s Not Engaged’ very well.

Overall, this is a good transition musical for this society between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’. Seeing the young actors smiling and giving their all from this fully inclusive society was joyful to watch. I feel that they will be far more suited to the style of their next musical, Matilda, which takes place in 2022.

I thank Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre for their hospitality and for getting to put this production onstage, despite the many setbacks they’ve had! 

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