The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance

By Arthur Sullivan and William Gilbert

Directed and choreographed by Sue Bonnett

Musical Director – Joseph Binmore

Performed at The Connaught Gardens, Sidmouth on Sunday 21st July 2024

By Centre Stage, Exmouth.

 

I was delighted to see the Connaught Gardens fill up with audience members on such a lovely warm afternoon to watch the talented cast of Centre Stage perform this iconic G & S operetta.

With an empty stage and very few props the company produced one of the funniest and watchable interpretations of  “Pirates” I have been fortunate to have seen.

Using piped music from the sound desk and only two speakers the raucous pirates start with ‘Pour oh Pirate Sherry’ with gusto, entering through the garden undergrowth on to either side of the stage, with acrobatics and each cast member in character, what a start!

A perfectly cocky Pirate King  gave a hugely confident performance and with superb characterisation, led the hilarious band of naughty pirates.  Each one had their own personalities throughout and their chorus singing was exceptional. Well directed and performed.

Frederick, played by an incredibly strong actor with a great voice and with perfect comedic timing was very watchable. I loved this performance as I see very few create a Frederick who is actually believable and funny. Well done indeed.  His ‘Oh False One’ with Ruth was playful, working well together and the actor playing Ruth gave an articulate performance with a good voice and again, great comedic timing.

The ‘daughters’ enter from the rear of the gardens, through the audience, sing ‘Climbing over Rocky Mountain’ with gorgeous harmonies heard clearly and this standard of performance continued throughout with ‘Stay, Fred’ric, Stay’ and ‘Oh Dry the Glist’ning Tear’.  Edith , with a lovely tone to her voice was charming. As was the actor playing Mabel, who was demure and gentle, as she should be, and with a clear soprano voice she performed this challenging score well. And then we meet her father, the Major General, who relished this part and produced a memorable portrayal. With perfect diction, every word could be heard of the archetypal ‘I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General’ resulting in rapturous applause of the audience.

The raucous pirates then transform into well-behaved, yet wacky policemen in Act 2. Again, each one with an individual personality, it would seem, as they are brought to attention by their sergeant. This reminded me of the black and white films of the famous Keystone Cops, who are disorganised and confused most of the time. My notes, written at the time, read “The funniest policeman I have ever seen”.  Choreographed well, throughout, they performed ‘With Cat-Like Tread’ and ‘When a Felon’s Not Engaged in His Employment’ expertly. A Police Sergeant with gravitas in stature and presence, sang well and controlled his constables as best he could.  At times the policemen entered via the gardens and I was lucky enough to have a group serenading me in gorgeous harmony at one point.

The costumes were excellent as always, produced by Director/Choreographer, Sue Bonnett. The Daughter’s all in white nightgowns of the time and pretty long floral or plain pastel- coloured dresses with hair in braids or tied back. The Pirate King in regal purple trousers, white blouson shirt, red head scarf and cutlass.  Every policeman dressed in uniforms and helmets and each pirate with blousons, striped trousers, head-scarfs and swords or coshes.

Throughout, the sound made by this cast was exemplary and this showed clearly in ‘Hail Poetry’ with clear four-part harmonies which was as good or better than any other production I have witnessed. Congratulations to the MD, Joseph Binmore, for producing such a quality of singing.

 It can be risky take a production outside but even without any added lighting and limited sound, this production did not fall short at any stage. It was delightful to watch, proven by the reaction of the audience, who loved it. As I left, I talked to a number of audience members who stated how impressed they were with a young cast producing such a professional and enjoyable piece of musical theatre in Sidmouth.

Sincere congratulations to all, it was just joyful to watch.

Lyn Burgoyne (Noda Representative, District 5, Mid and East Devon).

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.