Review: The Pirates Of Penzance, The Broadway Version, Northern Musical Theatre Company, York Theatre Royal, July 12 (From York Press)

Review: The Pirates Of Penzance, The Broadway Version, Northern Musical Theatre Company, York Theatre Royal, July 12

12:00pm Saturday 12th July 2008 in

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Having seen the 1982 version of the film and cringed for the majority of the first act, my expectations of this highly acclaimed production were not, in all honesty, that high.

However my opinion changed at a rate of knots when the pirates opened up the show with such energy and humour that I knew I was in for a treat within the first five minutes.

The Pirates Of Penzance was a hilarious modern take on Gilbert and Sullivan’s satirical opera. It was cleverly designed to engage a modern audience with a young, talented cast and plenty of comical gags.

For the final time for now in York, Sam Coulson excelled as lead, the honest, young man Frederic, who is forced to be an apprentice to a band of soft-hearted, orphaned pirates but wants to return to respectable society and win the girl of his dreams, Mabel, played by Abby Wells.

Although this may be the end of an era in York for Coulton, who has recently won a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, in London, it surely is the beginning of a brilliant future for this talented young actor.

The whole cast did extremely well, given the cheeky but difficult soundtrack with a wide vocal range and fast-worded lyrics. I often find in productions the orchestra is isolated from the show. However, sword-fighting with the conductor and constant interactions between the cast and musicians provided humour and fun.

With so many modern-day gags – like Queen Victoria’s sudden appearance with a shopping trolley – the whole theatre was electric with the fresh wit and comedy. I mean, who would have thought you could fit the Macarena into a Gilbert and Sullivan production? Well, director Bev Jones has cleverly managed it.

I also have to mention Joe Wawryzniak, who shone as the big-hearted, camp Pirate King. I don’t really think anyone could have pulled off a pirate in pink tights as well as him.

The Pirates Of Penzance was an absolutely brilliant show, full of humour, energy, flirty fun and great costumes that made it a true feast of music.

The Pirates Of Penzance, The Broadway Version, Northern Musical Theatre Company, York Theatre Royal, 2.30pm and 7.30pm today. Box office: 01904 623568.

- Hollie Cowan