The Pirates of Penzance

Gilbert and Sullivan purists should beware. This touring version of the popular 1880 light operatic stalwart of suburban amateurs the length and breadth of the Home Counties is the Broadway reworked edition. That said, it is hugely enjoyable to an audience not looking for a classical interpretation.

With a re-orchestrated score, some juggling of verses, an extension of the confrontation between the Pirates and the Police and the, to some, blasphemous importing of two songs from other G & S shows, this is light operetta for the 21st Century.

However, it has to be said that something has long had to be done to haul what has become a period curiosity to modern audiences into the next millennium. Reworked over 20 years ago, Joseph Papp's current version is littered with modern references and, in parts, is almost a pantomime.

In the capable hands of Gary Wilmot and Su Pollard, the Pirate King and Ruth (the predatory man eater chasing the juvenile lead) the production fills the well designed stage with action, humour and songs from the start. The second act even has a traditional panto audience song sheet and the Keystone Kops-like confrontation with the Pirates spills off the stage and into the stalls with much coshing of helmets in amongst the punters.

Special mention should be made of Joshua Dallas. Playing Frederic, he is in virtually every scene. By all accounts only recently out of Theatre School, he more than capably fills the role of the ever-so-slightly fey 21 year old virgin pursued by Ruth and Mabel and handles both the songs and the comedy admirably.

A very capable supporting cast ensures that the 'serious bits' ably compliment the high comedy and slapstick physicality of the main players.

The DeMontfort Hall's powerful sound system was put to very good use enabling every word to be heard clearly. A must with the far from simplistic lyrics of Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan.

My only beef is that, when they re-scored the production for a modern audience, they should have made the opening number a little beefier. That said, this is a popular and populist updating of a classic which deserves to reach a wide audience. My inbuilt apathy to G & S has been shaken and I look forward to exploring more of their body of works.

Pirates of Penzance is at DeMontfort Hall, Leicester until 1 December 2001 and then continues to tour nationwide until at least April 2002

© Paul Towers 26/11/2001