The Pirates of Penzance

First off, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the officers and members of Birmingham Savoyards on reaching your 60 year anniversary. Such an amazing achievement deserves to be celebrated not only by continuing to entertain your audiences but also being able to raise much needed funds for St Basil’s Charity. There are very few societies still running that are talented enough to be able to perform what would be bookmarked as traditional G&S to the appreciative audience on the night I attended.

Birmingham Savoyards are a new addition to my Noda area. Having deputised for my colleague on a previous occasion, my husband was absolutely delighted for us to accept the invitation to Pirates as he so enjoyed HMS Pinafore in 2022. We were very much looking forward to attending.

David Charter was the young Frederic (the pirate apprentice) - he has a lovely singing tone. Janet James played his nursemaid Ruth; the totally intentional age difference made for some interesting reactions from both cast and audience alike!

Enter the diversion of Major General Stanley’s daughters and chaperone. I really enjoyed watching Sharon Tozer as Edith trying her utmost best to flirt outrageously and catch Frederic’s gaze, much to the dismay and disgust of Kate played by Deborah Webb. The interaction between Kate and Edith really made the audience laugh. However Frederic only has eyes for Mabel, played with innocence by Kate Willson. I was very impressed by her stage presence, characterisation, and superb clear singing throughout, along with the other chorus ladies - Jane Burkowski, Kathy Lovell, Barbara Marsh, Liz Neville, Audrey Page, Sue Rogers and Karen Walford, who were inevitably matched with the Pirates.

Allow me to now introduce the other men. We saw Paul Wozinak as the imposing assertive Pirate King who is lied to by Major General Stanley played by Rob Mead, who I have seen play a similar authoritative larger than life character with aplomb - he is very well suited to this type of character.                       The Sergeant of police, Will Rumball, was joined by Adrian Edmonds, Edward Hall, Phil Lovell, Bill Rogers (who also played the part of Samuel), Mark Sidey, Paul Wadley and Ian Webb in one of the most memorable well known G&S musical numbers of all ‘When The Foeman Bares His Steel Tarantara Tarantara’. I have to add this was very well done and the simple effective well rehearsed moves were very well executed.

Using the entire stage when performing whilst utilising a very simple set, enhanced with the beautiful period costumes throughout, ensured a high standard production again on this occasion.

The Savoyards Ensemble under the direction of Martin Fautley did not overpower the fabulous voices as can often be the case.

Highlights for me were ‘How Beautifully Blue the Sky’ and ‘Oh false one you have deceived me!’

Many congratulations to all on another successful production, you should be very proud of the achievement.

Many thanks again for the invitation; my husband I enjoyed it immensely, as did the other audience members.

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