The Broadway Version of this most popular of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas relies heavily on the quick timing and sharp exchanges of witty dialogue as well as the wonderfully memorable music of the original albeit played on synthesisers. Director Kevin Gauntlett and Musical Director John Hargreaves kept faith with the original G&S and produced a very successful show. This was a lively production and used the stage areas well, but I thought that Edith and Kate’s antics through the audience row was unnecessary as this upstaged the ‘Climbing Over the Rocky Mountain’ number as most of the audience was looking into the auditorium wondering what the commotion was about. Although it is lovely to extend the stage in front of the orchestra pit, and with this version of the show this is usual, please remember that on a flat stage those sitting near the front of the auditorium then have a struggle to see past this extension back to the stage. There was also a problem with the side lines as there was a straight view into the wings where waiting cast members could be seen.

Karma Sundermann gave the audience a lovely coquettish portrayal of Mabel, with clear diction and a lovely singing voice. Fredric, Adrian Saunders looked right for the part of the pirate apprentice, Fredric, and they made a brave couple thwarting the sisters as well as the pirates. Jonathan Faint almost unrecognisable in wig and fine feathers, was quite a Johnny Depp look-alike and played the part with humour and enthusiasm. Robert Heather as Samuel, his Lieutenant had a lot of Bob Hoskins in ‘Hook’ about him and strongly supported his captain. This was both metaphorically and in reality when he held him over the orchestra pit. Major-General Stanley, Kevin Gauntlett, was an excellent buffer and bluffer of a character and the patter song was particularly enjoyable. Paul Mount, as Edward, a Sergeant of Police, acted and sang well, although ‘failing’ to keep the policeman in control!

Kate, Amanda Farrant, Edith, Lesley Wright and Isabel, Alison Shaw all had well defined and recognisable characters, a refreshing mixture of the naughty school-girls and the refined ladies, who relished the attention of the pirates! Ruth, played by Pat Adams, played the opening Act in a down-beat way but came into her own in the second act when she appeared on equal terms with the Pirate King enjoying the paradox of Fredric’s birthday.

The chorus of pirates, policeman, daughters and chaperones sang and moved well and all had been given real characters from the knitting pirate to the crowd controlling matrons. I do feel that there should have been more matrons as some of the daughters seemed a little old to have had General Stanley as their father. I particularly enjoyed the policeman’s keystone cop routines although the white mask make-up was a little off-putting. The chorus enjoyment was evident throughout the production and this was effectively conveyed to the audience.

 The costumes were good and the girls particularly looked very delicate in their ice-cream coloured dresses, but I was a little confused when the girls came on in Act 2 wearing night-gowns and then only Mabel had found the time to change back into an evening dress.

The set and the opening performance of the ships worked well and fortunately the dry ice did not disappear into the orchestra pit. The lighting was clear and bright in Act 1 and sufficiently atmospheric and dark in Act 2. The sound system at the Churchill seems to have improved a little but there were some odd sound fluctuations from stage right. Stage management was unobtrusively supervised.

Well done to everybody who worked on this production which was a joy to attend.

Chris Williams 
(NODA London Region 4}