Jo adds a whacky touch to Gilbert and Sullivan

2:41pm Friday 22nd February 2008

If you like good music and silly knock-about fun you should love the latest production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance at the Gielgud Theatre.

A new diamension was added in the form of portly comedienne Jo Brand cast as the Sergeant of Police armed with a football rattle.

She brought a whacky touch to this whimsical story, but was outshone by the superb comic performance of Barry Clark as doddery Major-General Stanley, whose daughters are pursued by a bunch of swaggering pirates. The opening scene in which he swam various strokes in a superimposed sea' was hilarious.

Three other members of the cast were also outstanding - David Curry as naive hero Frederic, Steven Page as the tough Pirate King with a soft heart, Michael Kerry as his Lieutenant Samuel and Deborah Myers as the other romantic lead, Mabel.

Deborah's beautifully sang version of Poor Wandering One was the highlight of this spoof story in which she is wooed by confused pirate apprentice Frederic.

The pirates turn out to be a tame, well mannered lot who feel sorry for anyone who has been an orphen. But they still scare the daylights out of a band of cowardly policemen.

The Pirates of Penzance has been performed regularly since 1879 so there was no need for director Peter Mulloy to take any liberties with it. But I did feel a bit more action in the choreography and innuendo involving Jo Brand could have been added.

Unlike with some other versions, there was no banter between the actors and the orchestra and no sign of the pirate ship being tossed by the ocean, with the pirates swaying precariously from the rigging.

But this well cast production is proving to be the hit of Carl Rosa's Gielgud season of three Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and even the matinee performances are being sold out.

It is a boisterous, amusing romp that projects Gilbert's lyrics delightfully - and can be enjoyed by the whole family. But if you want to see it you had better hurry as the season ends on March 1.

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