The Pirates of Penzance

Monmouth Music Theatre took us to the rugged shores of Cornwall to the land of smugglers and rollicking bands of pirates with their latest production, the famous G & S Operetta Pirates of Penzance to packed houses and great audience reaction!!

Opening with Pour Oh Pour The Pirate Sherry, a swashbuckling band of evil pirates gave a rousing start to the show with their Pirate King, Meri Maturin and Samuel played well by Helen Keef, Ruth, Katie Ellis and Frederick, Adrian Bevan . Then a lovely scene of six delectable Daughters singing ‘Climbing Over Rocky Mountains’ as they trip along the cliffs to the sea shore, Morgan Koronis as Isabel Keri Russell as Edith and Sheryl Westoby as Kate, sweetly singing their solos with Daughters
lyn Tanner, Caroline Foligno and Jessica Kimberley dancing to good choreography. Frederick’s Pirate Maid Ruth, played brilliantly by Katie Ellis pledges her love for Frederick but as she is more than twice his age, it does not go down so well! Frederick hears the maidens singing Then Frederick ‘who has never seen another woman’ very skilfully played by Adrian Bevan with excellent diction enters the beach, realises he has been deceived by Ruth who knows all is lost and the ‘never seen a man’ girls are full of horror yet thrilled at the sight of one, and he is…. Frederick, a handsome pirate!

The scene was set for the entrance of a new and exceptional star that is Holly Thody as Mabel, with her incredible golden voice an astonishing natural talent, acting and singing, solos by Mabel and Frederick and Mabel’s duets were outstanding and effortless. This was unbelievably Holly’s first time on stage, the audience applause said it all!.

Chris Godwin as Major General Stanley gave a show stopper performance, a most difficult song timed to perfection.

MMT were lucky indeed to find such a talented Pirate King as Meri Maturin. Not only a fantastic stage presence, singing expressively and acting every second of his performance, also the ability to command the stage with interaction, so essential in this role.

The fiercest of Pirates claim the women, and we hear of Fredericks problem of his leap year birthday, his hopes of leaving the pirates band end, only to be saved by an absolutely hilarious police force led by their Sergeant, Philip Chant, who overcome the Pirate band and Ruth reveals that they are really Gentlemen peers , who have gone wrong!!

This production was very well cast with a good debut cameo of a regal Queen Victoria, Sarah Robinson.

Well done to new Stage Manager Adam Wells and Crew/Sound/ Lighting. Excellent costumes from Worcester G & S Society.

From beginning to end a very enjoyable, fun and entertaining production of The Pirates of Penzance from Stage Director Adrian Bevan and team, with the famous music everyone knows, a cast in fine voice and excellent pace from Musical Director Ruth Friend and her orchestra and Accompanist Repetiteur Helen Stidolph.

Congratulations on your success Monmouth Music Theatre !

This review is the sole opinion of the Author

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.