The Pirates of Penzance. Book and Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert. Music by Arthur Sullivan. Wilton's Music Hall, London until 23 Nov & Theatre Royal Bath 2 - 7 Dec, 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo credit: Mark Senior.

The Pirates of Penzance. Book and Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert. Music by Arthur Sullivan. Wilton's Music Hall, Off Alley, London until 23 November 2024 & Theatre Royal Bath 2 - 7 December,

5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.

“Scintillating production.”

Sasha Regan has a long history of directing all male versions of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, some splendid, at least one awful, but this scintillating version of The Pirates of Penzance is by far her best and is beautifully sung by pirates, policemen and maidens alike in whatever voice demanded. Gilbert would be delighted because they sing his words, rare on any musical stage these days, so that as well as the high jinks devised by Regan and choreographer Lizzi Gee, the integrity of the opera is maintained. This is no drag show but one in which singers , who do not need to have been castrated to reach the high soprano notes, cover the entire vocal range. Maybe Sullivan would be a little less delighted as some voices are rather lighter than he composed the songs for but the performances save the day. Maybe at the end, when maidens, policemen and pirates all descend upon the stage, things get a mite chaotic but up until then it is a joy to look at and to listen to. Cameron McAlister is a strapping if slightly light voiced Frederic, the pirate apprentice, who falls for Mabel, Luke Garner-Greene, delivering Mabel's trills with the necessary style, daughter of Major-General Stanley, David McKechnie in full Savoyard mode, only to find his indentures as a pirate have a lot more time to run because he was born on February 29. Tom Newland as an even more strapping Pirate King,slightly overshadows Frederic, who ought to be the most desirable man around, while Robert Wilkes, not quite the contralto Sullivan had in mind, let alone the woman Gilbert had, is very funny as the bride no self respecting pirate would want. Nice back projections, stylish costumes - no padded bras in sight - some great visual gags as well as the quality of singing and the way musical director Giannis Giannopoulos delivers the score brilliantly, make this that rare thing – a good night out for one and all even dye hard Savoyards. Go storm the Wilton's box office.

Cast

Cameron McAlister – Frederic.

Luke Garner-Greene – Mabel.

Pirate King – Tom Newland.

Robert Wilkes – Ruth.

David McKechnie – Major-General Stanley.

Lewis Kennedy – Sergeant of Police.

Kiran Kaanan – Edith.

Thomas Griffiths – Samuel.

Thomas Alsop – Ket.

Joe Henry – Isabel.

Aaron Dean – Connie.

Joshua Molyneux, Patrick Cook, Samuel John Taylor, Alfie French, Boaz Chad, David Storey – Ensemble

Creatives

Director – Sasha Regan.

Choreographer – Lizzi Gee.

Original Design – Robyn Wilson-Owen.

Musical Director – Giannis Giannopoulos.

Lighting Design – Ben Bull.

Video Designers – Ben Bull, Lee Greenway.