Ahoy me hearties! .There was much fun at Bondi and muscially it was superb .
here's what I said for Sydney Arts Guide
http://sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1089
Ahoy me hearties! If Gilbert & Sullivan operetta is your thing, this is a bright, sparkling production of PIRATES OF PENZANCE, brought to us by the Waverley Lugarbrae Players in their 53rd year. This is a production of the revised, updated Broadway version and is glorious fun. Classic Gilbert & Sullivan, it is one of the ‘big 3 ‘ ( ‘Pirates of Penzance ‘,’The Mikado’ and ‘HMS Pinafore’) .While it has a typical Gilbert & Sullivan silly plot it is full of wonderful roles with great characterization , Gilbert’s witty satirical lyrics and Sullivan’s lilting catchy tunes. It can be quite difficult technically to perform and provides enchantment for all the family.
Vocally it was excellent with some terrific leads. Someone should make a cast CD of the show as musically it was absolutely marvelous under the energetic, scintillating baton of Rod Mounjed .(The orchestra was squashed in the ‘pit’ in front of the audience and could do with more room) .
Our dashing hero Frederick ,’the slave of duty’ with matinee idol good looks and a fine tenor voice, was Julian Brun. He looked every inch the romantic lead in Act 2 in cravat, breeches and blue coat and his ‘Oh is there not one maiden breast’ in Act 1 had all the ladies swooning. He would make a great Nanki-Poo (in ‘The Mikado’) or student prince Karl Franz.
Dark haired Mabel (Chloe-Anne McKenzie), with huge eyes and a luxurious voice to match, was magnificent. No wonder her ‘Poor wandering One’, with its demanding coloratura fireworks ,entranced Frederick! Their duet in Act 2 (‘all is prepared’) was lyrical and melting.
Our swashbuckling Pirate King, in a purple cummerbund and red bandana, was nimbly played by Glen Stelzer, in thrilling voice- more John English in style than Anthony Warlow. Full of bravado, Stelzer played him to the hilt and had a whale of a time. His lieutenant Samuel was excellently played by Sam Hile.’With Cat Like Tread’ stops the show to huge roars of enthusiasm.
Major General Stanley was delightfully played by John D. Morrison (ex Mayor of Waverley) who delivered the fiendishly difficult tongue twisting patter role superbly. He was indeed ‘the very model of a model Major General'.
The rubbery, obsequious yet determined Sergeant of Police was excellently played and sung by Steve Wells who led the choruses of ‘When A Foeman Bares His Steel ( Tarantara , tarantara ‘) and ‘When A Felon’s Not Engaged In His Employment’. (‘A policeman’s lot is not a happy one’ ) to great acclaim.
Our Ruth, the ‘piratical maid of all work’ was terrifically played by Tara Hennessy looking a lot younger than the 47 as stated in the role. In Act 2 she was stunning in a dark red/burgundy outfit .
There was great ensemble work, especially for the three main corps – Pirates, Major-General Stanley’s daughters, and the police. The small stage was over packed at times .The choreography was lively and the complicated crowd scenes handled deftly. There were some lovely floral costumes especially for Mabel and her sisters in Act 1, some snazzy police uniforms in Act2 and ermine and red velvet for the coronets in Act 2. And the Pirates were a clean but rather rag tag lot.
I think you will leave the show with a big grin on your face. Hugely enjoyable and the audience loved it.
Catch the Pirates if you can at the theatre in the Church in the Market Place at Bondi Junction. The show, running approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 20 minute interval, is playing this coming Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Bookings 93895361.
© Lynne Lancaster
21 May, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Gilbert and Sullivan, Waverley Lugar Brae Players, Churh In The Marketplace, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster.
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