There was a chance this in-concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates – which can be packed with swashbuckling fervour and anti-establishment satire – could fall short of sparkle and fun. But with Stuart Maunder steering the ship – a G&S enthusiast with a raft of successful productions to his name – any such worries were soon banished.
The absurdity of the melodrama, the brandished swords and pantomime ambience never gets old and soon the artfully staged mayhem prompts smiles and laughter among the packed audience scattered with opera cognoscenti.
The Pirates of Penzance. Photo © Joel Devereux
Part of the charm of this Pirates lies in how much the singers enjoy embodying the characters, from the Major General to the King of the Pirates to Ruth (boldly incarnated by the accomplished Antoinette Halloran) and Matthew Broadbent’s delightful, heel-clicking, truncheon-wielding Sergeant.
Nina Korbe in the role of Mabel, the Major General’s daughter, is stunning. She sings her heart out, moves with grace and her powerful high notes have extraordinary power. The parasol-twirling ensemble of Mable’s siblings exude an engaging spirit and flirtatious mettle as their voices soar.
Showman Jason Barry-Smith, an Opera Queensland...
Continue reading
Get unlimited digital access from $4 per month
Already a subscriber?
Log in
The combination of excellent people on stage, excellent interpretation and artistic guidance from the lovely Stuart Maunder, the brilliant sensitivity of the Musical Director and his orchestra, pulled off a ‘Concert version’ that completely made you forget there was no set.
The focus was on the characters, the music, the script, the acting, the movement.
It was a visual and auditory pleasure.
An extraordinary feat.
An absolute joy for this G&S junkie