Review of ‘Pirates of Penzance’: “A first-rate opportunity”

Sasha Regan’s signature all-male production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s masterpiece returns to the London scene, featuring a new cast performing at the Wilton’s Music Hall until the end of the month. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if this ‘sir-gent’ approach on the classic work is something he’d jolly roger.

I am the very model of a viewer who's quite critical
I'm draining, and demanding, too - and sometimes, parasitical
I know what I would like to see, and savvy how shows should be done
And if you don't oblige me, then my words become a loaded gun

For when it comes to classics, my opinions are skeptical 
As new takes make my own head spin, or turn me epileptical 
But Sasha Regan has returned, with her montage of piracy
And males that play the wenches too - I swear, it sounds like lunacy!

Unwind your swords, and your 'ahoys' - it's time for some swashbuckling fun  
With buccaneers on a crusade that's closer to a chuckling run
They fight their fights with gentle hands - these goons are soft like morning's dew
And as they strive to rob and loot, they also steal a smile or two

They're landing on the Wilton's deck - their ship is moored into its hall
And though there's not much of a set, the looks of it are far from small
Combined with Ben Bull's lighting tricks, which build a garnished atmosphere,
Miss Owen-Wilson's drafts delight the most stringent privateer

There's not much dancing on this plank, but still a nice array of twirls
All credited to Lizzie Gee, these studs will make you shout: 'Go, girls!'
High energy and spirit pour all through its sweet choreography,
Which flaunts such great precision while still preserves its drollery

And as the music plays and plays, through Sullivan's melodious songs
The whole crew serves the score quite well, with hardly doing any wrongs
There are some casual flaws in pitch, but nothing you should fret about
For when these sailors sing en masse, the only thing they boast is clout

Among these pansy ruffians, there's a few that stand out in the lot,
For they display fair voices, while their acting's clearly worth a shot
If someone's earned a mention, Dave McKechnie makes the strongest cut,
His foolish Major General just couldn't be more off his nut

Yet, there's another member that excels within this eye-patched troupe,
Exuding charm and timing, his pizzazz brings full swing on the poop!
His role is cute and innocent - yet long ago, she left her youth
It's no-one else but Robert Wilkes, who plays the winter chicken, Ruth

And now the curtain must come down - and, to an end, should this review
But not without me saying what, by all means, you are meant to do
For there aren't many opera shows to see that stand a bigger chance
Than this enchanting, camp remake of all-male 'Pirates of Penzance'

All pictures credit to Marc Senior.

Pirates of Penzance plays at London’s Wilton’s Music Hall until 23 November, before playing at Theatre Royal Bath from 2 to 7 December. Tickets for the London run are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara