Pirates Of Penzance
Bromley
Bucks Free
Press
2001
Ahoy there! Set
sail on crazy pirate ship
The production of the Pirates
of Penzance, now on at the Churchill Theatre, is
like a young cocker spaniel boisterous, naughty
and full of infectious fun.
Absolutely loveable! When Gary
Wilmot bursts onto the stage with his band of
tender-hearted pirates and the widest cheeky grin,
it's love at first sight.
The lads are known everywhere
for letting all orphans go but have not stopped
to noticed that, amazingly, every ship they
capture is completely crewed by orphans Then
there is Su Pollard, probably best known for her
role in the TV classics, Hi De Hi and You Rang M'Lord.
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The
tingle of recognition as she plays yet another
woman who always manages to get the plot
hopelessly wrong, makes you warm immediately to
her character, Ruth. The bird-brained Ruth manages to miss-hear
her master's instructions and apprentices her
young charge, Frederic, as a pirate instead of a
pilot. She then further complicates matters by
falling hopelessly in love with him.
And here's a little know fact
Su sings rather well as she capably proves in her
several solos. Joe Papp's exuberant update of the
raucous Gilbert and Sullivan musical about
pirates and policemen, romance and a modern Major
General guarantees an evening of high-octane fun.
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Note
the bevy of sex-crazed, thoroughly modern maidens
who relish the attentions of the big brawny
pirates and swoon en-mass as Frederic changes,
mid-song, from a lovelorn young man into the hip
grinding Elvis. Then there is the timidly-inclined
police sergeant who lapses into the campest of
lisps. It's got to be seen to be believed. But you'll have to listen very carefully
because the witty lyrics occasionally get lost in
the mayhem. This is certainly the most satisfying
piece of pure entertainment you could possibly
want to see, so book your ticket now.
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