What a splendidly rollicking event Carl Rosa Opera’s HMS Pinafore turned out to be (Bath, Theatre Royal – 6 May) - musical candyfloss for sure, but none the less enjoyable for all that! Not all that many years ago, local amateur operatic groups staging Gilbert & Sullivan operettas were two-a-penny but the trend more recently seems to favour music theatre shows. That is a shame for a number of reasons: First, with G&S, most operatic groups were on fairly safe ground. The straightforward music and light-hearted content nearly always works even if the performers are not necessarily all that gifted or experienced - which is perhaps one reason why G&S used to be a very popular choice for school productions. (I well remember singing the role The Lieutenant of the Tower in a school production of Yeomen of the Guard¸ resplendent in plum-coloured wrinkly hose that would have done Nora Batty proud!). The same easy and accessible style is not always evident in music-theatre productions and consequently, amateur operatic groups that in the past have staged G&S really quite successfully have, in more recent years, committed some real howlers. Even though I am an amateur performer myself (and generally very sympathetic to other amateurs), I very nearly left one such show during the interval because it was so atrocious! Second, there is much to appreciate in Gilbert & Sullivan’s work. While it may not play on the emotions in the same way that grand opera does, it often provides a fascinating insight into British social mores, usually in a rather gentlemanly but nonetheless satirical way. One often senses too in Sullivan’s music, the desire to tackle weightier subjects, and some of his arias rival those of his more serious counterparts.
Carl Rosa Opera’s refreshing sea-breeze of a production ticked all of the boxes: satire, social commentary, love, greed and incompetence, all mixed up in a wonderfully light musical souffle! There was some great character acting, not only by the principals, but throughout the lively and very watchable chorus too. The sets were superb and an eye to detail was evident in every corner. My only criticisms are relatively minor: the bigger chorus numbers were not always as crisp and accurate as they might have been; and Jeremy Finch, playing Ralph Rackstraw (although he looked the part and acted really well) lacked the vocal quality, and dare I say, the technique to carry the role musically. There was a bit too much music theatre and pub-singer style creeping in for my liking, and I regard using the falsetto voice to hit the top notes as a form of cheating – especially in G&S which doesn’t exactly make impossible demands on the singer! In contrast, Olivia Safe whose demure Josephine was nicely judged, sang with more classical technique (as one might expect from a professionally trained singer) and the result was rather lovely. John Savident (of Coronation Street fame) was excellent in the character role of Sir Joseph Porter whose self-importance, hypocrisy and incompetence was portrayed in a most entertaining manner. There were brilliant performances too by Gareth Jones as Dick Deadeye and Beverley Klein whose sensitively played Little Buttercup was an unexpected delight. Su Douglas made the most of her role as Hebe, adding colour and comedy in equal measure. Wyn Pencarreg as Captain Corcoran was very much the star turn, possessing authority and vulnerability that lent credibility his plight. With a great voice and fine comic timing, he was the star of the show who was never outdone – well hardly ever!
Director Peter Mulloy really brought this G&S opera to life in a way that modern audiences could understand. I particularly liked the enactments (set 30 years before the story takes place) which set the scene so very well for us during the overture. Musical Director Martin Handley kept the orchestra in check and their accurate and spirited playing was always nicely balanced, never once threatening to drown out the ship’s company.
This was a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment and we left the theatre humming Sullivan’s wonderfully memorable tunes with a spring in our step and smiles on our faces! We are both looking forward to our next appointment with the Carl Rosa Opera Company when they stage Gilbert & Sullivan’s Yeomen of the Guard in the Tower of London later this year!
