The Pirates of Penzance Broadway Version

It had been a few years since I had seen the ‘Broadway Pirates’ and looked forward to an entertaining evening. This version usually has a more swashbuckling and a more comic feel to it. Although the songs are the same, the orchestration is different and it has the addition of the ’Matter’ Patter trio, from Ruddigore and “Sorry her lot’ from HMS Pinafore.

This show requires two sets, one for each Act, and those from Proscenium were superb. The opening with the small ship sailing backwards and forwards among the waves and then appearing ‘full size’ stage right was fun. The row of waves across the back of the stage gave an added feeling of a rocky Cornish seashore. The second Act, in the ruins of a chapel on General Stanley’s estate was hauntingly atmospheric, with tombstones and crumbling walls.

The sets were shown to full advantage by the excellently designed and cued lighting; particularly dramatic was the lighting for ‘Hail Poetry’. I understand there were sound problems on the previous evening, which had obviously been sorted when I saw it as the sound was well balanced and well cued. The costumes were appropriate and worn well, although I found the satin dresses for the beach a little jarring, I would have preferred cottons and muslins. There were females in the crew and the police, and I liked the fact that they were dressed as females rather than trying to disguise them as men.

You do not usually think of large energetic dance numbers in Gilbert and Sullivan productions but Choreographer Lisa Crowhurst had created lovely routines for the cast, which were in keeping with the production. I particularly liked the choreography for the girls in their first number and ‘With Cat-like Tread’, with an athletic Pirate King, with good fighting from the Pirates and slapstick from the Police.

Both chorus and principals sang well, and Musical Director David Manifold had good control of his musicians and singers, with a good balance of sound. Diction was good throughout and there were some good harmonies. ‘Hail Poetry’ was spine tingling.

The production had been well cast with everyone working together, supporting the action at all times, with excellent ensemble numbers. Everyone had entered into the spirit of the production and worked well on characterization. There were no weak links in this production but for me two performances stood out. Newcomer, Rebecca Grant-Jones as Mabel, she acted and sang her way through the show very confidently, her clarity of diction and tone were outstanding, especially in ‘Poor Wandering One’. Neal Carter-Lewis also gave an outstanding performance as Major - General Stanley; he commanded the stage in the earlier scenes and gave a lovely rendition of ‘I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General’.

Director Diana Dodd had certainly brought out the humour in the script adding one or two ’naughty’ moments. There were lots of lovely gems throughout, I loved the reaction from the female Pirates when Frederick is trying to find out if Ruth is attractive compared with other women. Also when The Pirate King was using his sword as a microphone and all his other antics in “Oh, Better Far To Live And Die’. She had used the stage well and the entrance of ‘the daughters’ through the auditorium was a nice touch.  Good use was made of the second Act set to hide the various groups of people.

This was a highly entertaining production and congratulations must go to everyone for a fun filled, ‘swashbuckling’ evening.

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