The Pirates of Penzance

To be honest, last year’s production of ‘The Sorcerer’ was very nearly perfect in every respect, and whatever was going to be on offer almost exactly one year later, was going to have one hell of a job to match it. When I heard that it was going to be ‘Pirates’, I was pleased and disappointed all at the same time. Amongst the ‘G and S’ elite … ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ is (apparently) the best loved and (certainly) the best box office piece penned by Sir William and Sir Arthur, but, like ‘Oliver’ and ‘Cinderella’, it comes around way too often and it seemed like only a few years since I last saw it. A tertiary glance at the roll of honour 1954 to 2014 revealed it was actually 2009 (2002 -1996 -1989 -1981 -1969 -1958 …. you take my point) however, like a cliché, it only gets to be a cliché by over use, and that is generally because it is true … or in this case actually quite good. So if anything was going to give the NODA nominated ‘Sorcerer’ a run for its money … why not ‘Pirates’?

The comic genius who is Andrew Nickin was back at the helm, along with one of this towns favourite sons, Derek Oldfield as Musical Director, so things boded well, certainly if the program was anything to go by, this was going to be a 180gsm, deluxe presentation in full colour throughout  ! In fact it followed on nicely from The Sorcerer, with a show that once again put aside the expectations of devout ‘G and S’ regulars, and in an … all-inclusive way, invited everyone and anyone along for the ride and then defied them not to have fun. The set didn’t blow me away like last year, but it was perfectly adequate with complimentary lighting , costumes, wigs and make up that caused me no offence whatsoever.

 The female chorus was just phenomenal … let’s start with Gemma Gryko as Kate … I don’t know whether its prescribed, or sourced privately but I will have whatever she is taking! So much energy and so much enthusiasm only to be trumped by the incredible Katie Hargreaves as Edith whose singing voice was delightful and her characterisation as compelling as Mrs Gryko’s…. But wait, a late entrant to the spellbinding performance ball, Cinderella .. I mean Jessica Abbott … I mean really, Jessica Abbott. Sublime! I know that the female romantic lead is Mabel played with decorum by Sharon Cutworth and I am also sure that many Gilbert and Sullivan purists will be screaming at me right now, but even with Miss Cutworth’s  perfectly lovely performance, I still wanted those crazy girls going .. well crazy !

Although the ladies were excellent, the men were not going to let it go without a fight and they were once again universally on the very top form with some familiar faces amongst the regulars. Mr Large, Mr Bush along with the usual ensemble really delivered the goods. They looked good, moved well, and just seemed to be having a ball!

In the more substantial roles, Julie Bjerregaard was wonderful as devoted Ruth, even with no voice on opening night (dubbed live, and with panache by Amanda Arterton) she still mustered facial characterisations that put her performance amongst the best I have seen recently. I am told, by the end of the run, with voice intacta … she was even better! Andy Hiles played the Frederic part last time and, whilst it was a classy performance, his age was an issue. Well this time there were no issues, he was so relaxed and so perfectly cast he shone through a very worthwhile cast even with only a modest amount to do. In a similar vein, Mr Andrew Masterson as the Sergeant of Police (on loan, it would seem from Gwent Constabulary) had me in tears every time he was on stage. His beautiful singing voice, velvet speaking voice and extraordinary comedy timing reminded me why, since his comeback in 2013, he has been sought after by every local Director, including me!

Back in 2009, G and S Newcomer, Anil Chakrabarti was the best thing in, what I remember to be a lacklustre production. Well, this time he was once again very much The Pirate King, and once again leaning severely towards Jack Sparrow in costume and mannerism. Although Mr Chakrabarti delivered another accomplished performance there seemed so much more to be looking at this time round, and I thought he stood out just a little less. Part of that was the incredible singing voice and shocking good looks of returning hero (of The Sorcerer that is) and immense talent, Laurence Panter as slave of duty Frederic, a part he was perfectly suited to, and stole most of the scenes he was involved in.

Penultimate paragraph honours could easily have been spread over a raft of great characterisations, but instead, I have decided to honour Mr John Torr as Major-General Stanley. Mr Torr didn’t just meander flawlessly through Modern Major General with the confidence of a man who had three more takes available if he needed them, he had such a mighty stage presence it glowed like an aura around him and, whilst you were aware that there are others nearby, you couldn’t take your eyes from him for a second. He sang and acted his socks off throughout and was the Royal icing on a Victoria Sponge of a production that delighted everyone in the audience.

Congratulations to Andrew Nicklin and all involved for a quality night’s entertainment. It came up short against last year’s offering, there was no question in my mind about that, and as I made my way home it just occurred to me that there was no comedy stone left unturned in the Sorcerer. There was nothing I thought I would have liked to have seen extra, nothing I felt I would have changed if I had been in charge, and yet this time I saw a collection of missed opportunities and small segments that need a little extra polish. It may be enormously unfair of me, and I mean no disrespect, but I just kept thinking that it didn’t feel as if his heart had been in this one, the way it had been twelve months earlier.  

Stephen P E Hayter.
(Regional Representative NODA Eastern Region - Area 4 North)

DIRECTOR
Andrew Nicklin
Derek Oldfield

VENUE
The Guildhall of St George, King’s Lynn

DATE
Thursday January 30th 2014

To be honest, last year’s production of ‘The Sorcerer’ was very nearly perfect in every respect, and whatever was going to be on offer almost exactly one year later, was going to have one hell of a job to match it. When I heard that it was going to be ‘Pirates’, I was pleased and disappointed all at the same time. Amongst the ‘G and S’ elite … ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ is (apparently) the best loved and (certainly) the best box office piece penned by Sir William and Sir Arthur, but, like ‘Oliver’ and ‘Cinderella’, it comes around way too often and it seemed like only a few years since I last saw it. A tertiary glance at the roll of honour 1954 to 2014 revealed it was actually 2009 (2002 -1996 -1989 -1981 -1969 -1958 …. you take my point) however, like a cliché, it only gets to be a cliché by over use, and that is generally because it is true … or in this case actually quite good. So if anything was going to give the NODA nominated ‘Sorcerer’ a run for its money … why not ‘Pirates’?

The comic genius who is Andrew Nickin was back at the helm, along with one of this towns favourite sons, Derek Oldfield as Musical Director, so things boded well, certainly if the program was anything to go by, this was going to be a 180gsm, deluxe presentation in full colour throughout  ! In fact it followed on nicely from The Sorcerer, with a show that once again put aside the expectations of devout ‘G and S’ regulars, and in an … all-inclusive way, invited everyone and anyone along for the ride and then defied them not to have fun. The set didn’t blow me away like last year, but it was perfectly adequate with complimentary lighting , costumes, wigs and make up that caused me no offence whatsoever.

 The female chorus was just phenomenal … let’s start with Gemma Gryko as Kate … I don’t know whether its prescribed, or sourced privately but I will have whatever she is taking! So much energy and so much enthusiasm only to be trumped by the incredible Katie Hargreaves as Edith whose singing voice was delightful and her characterisation as compelling as Mrs Gryko’s…. But wait, a late entrant to the spellbinding performance ball, Cinderella .. I mean Jessica Abbott … I mean really, Jessica Abbott. Sublime! I know that the female romantic lead is Mabel played with decorum by Sharon Cutworth and I am also sure that many Gilbert and Sullivan purists will be screaming at me right now, but even with Miss Cutworth’s  perfectly lovely performance, I still wanted those crazy girls going .. well crazy !

Although the ladies were excellent, the men were not going to let it go without a fight and they were once again universally on the very top form with some familiar faces amongst the regulars. Mr Large, Mr Bush along with the usual ensemble really delivered the goods. They looked good, moved well, and just seemed to be having a ball!

In the more substantial roles, Julie Bjerregaard was wonderful as devoted Ruth, even with no voice on opening night (dubbed live, and with panache by Amanda Arterton) she still mustered facial characterisations that put her performance amongst the best I have seen recently. I am told, by the end of the run, with voice intacta … she was even better! Andy Hiles played the Frederic part last time and, whilst it was a classy performance, his age was an issue. Well this time there were no issues, he was so relaxed and so perfectly cast he shone through a very worthwhile cast even with only a modest amount to do. In a similar vein, Mr Andrew Masterson as the Sergeant of Police (on loan, it would seem from Gwent Constabulary) had me in tears every time he was on stage. His beautiful singing voice, velvet speaking voice and extraordinary comedy timing reminded me why, since his comeback in 2013, he has been sought after by every local Director, including me!

Back in 2009, G and S Newcomer, Anil Chakrabarti was the best thing in, what I remember to be a lacklustre production. Well, this time he was once again very much The Pirate King, and once again leaning severely towards Jack Sparrow in costume and mannerism. Although Mr Chakrabarti delivered another accomplished performance there seemed so much more to be looking at this time round, and I thought he stood out just a little less. Part of that was the incredible singing voice and shocking good looks of returning hero (of The Sorcerer that is) and immense talent, Laurence Panter as slave of duty Frederic, a part he was perfectly suited to, and stole most of the scenes he was involved in.

Penultimate paragraph honours could easily have been spread over a raft of great characterisations, but instead, I have decided to honour Mr John Torr as Major-General Stanley. Mr Torr didn’t just meander flawlessly through Modern Major General with the confidence of a man who had three more takes available if he needed them, he had such a mighty stage presence it glowed like an aura around him and, whilst you were aware that there are others nearby, you couldn’t take your eyes from him for a second. He sang and acted his socks off throughout and was the Royal icing on a Victoria Sponge of a production that delighted everyone in the audience.

Congratulations to Andrew Nicklin and all involved for a quality night’s entertainment. It came up short against last year’s offering, there was no question in my mind about that, and as I made my way home it just occurred to me that there was no comedy stone left unturned in the Sorcerer. There was nothing I thought I would have liked to have seen extra, nothing I felt I would have changed if I had been in charge, and yet this time I saw a collection of missed opportunities and small segments that need a little extra polish. It may be enormously unfair of me, and I mean no disrespect, but I just kept thinking that it didn’t feel as if his heart had been in this one, the way it had been twelve months earlier.  

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.