It’s amazing to think that Gilbert and Sullivan’s witty and in-the-moment comic operas can still enchant an audience a century and a half after their debut, but such is the case, as proven with last week’s opening of Noosa Arts Theatre’s production of The Pirates of Penzance.
Cleverly directed by veteran Jane Rivers, and featuring wonderful performances by leads Gary Morris at the Pirate King, Harry Cure as Frederic, quirky Knox Cameron as the Major General, and Rebecca Hincksman (whose high notes add another dimension to the show) as Mabel, this is a rollicking rendition of an old favourite, and who doesn’t love a pirate yarn with a good beat?
Although the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas usually opened at London’s Savoy, The Pirates of Penzance premiered on New Year’s Eve 1879 in New York, in an attempt to beat American pirate (no pun intended) productions.
JC Williamson bought the rights and the first Australian production opened at Sydney’s Theatre Royal in March 1881, with Williamson himself playing the Sergeant and his wife playing Ruth. Pirates was seldom out of production around the world over the next century, and then underwent a major revival with Joseph Papp’s 1981 Broadway production, which ran for 787 performances, winning a Tony award for best revival and inspiring a 1983 film adaptation, which became the first movie to go straight to subscription TV.
The film adaptation featured a stellar cast led by Kevin Costner as the Pirate King and Angela Lansbury as Ruth, but the surprise package was country rocker Linda Ronstadt’s brilliant vocals as Mabel. In 1994 performer and entrepreneur Simon Gallaher produced an Australian-filmed version of his local production featuring rock legend the late Jon English, which screened on the ABC.
While sometime Bono impersonator Gary Morris is no Jon English, his slick and sometimes menacing performance as Pirate King helps anchor the production, but it is the dynamic presence and amazing range of soprano Rebecca Hincksman as Mabel that sets this production apart. She dominates the large stage and her voice fills and thrills the theatre. Harry Cure as Frederic and Margaret Courtney as Ruth are also convincing and entertaining, while a clever updating of Gilbert’s lyrics to the modern political context gives Major General Knox Cameron plenty to work with.
Utilising a simple but colourful and clever set, and some wonderful costumes, this energetic cast keep the songs and the laughs coming over two frenetic acts. It’s great family entertainment and highly recommended.
Special mention to youngest cast member Max Leo-Worthington, a big, smiling lad whose maturity in handling his dual roles as pirate and policeman goes way beyond his 14 years.
Season runs 27, 28, 29 July and 3,4,5 August at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2pm 29, 30 July and 6 August. Tickets noosaartstheatre.org.au
