Fantastical, ridiculous, and gaudy (but in a great way), Pirates of Penzance, presented by the West Australian Opera, sailed me away to a place of complete escapism.
Our story begins with designer Richard Roberts’ giant illustrated and cartoon-esque pirate ship pushed onto the stage, with our band of joyful pirates leaping forth. This opening number is an explosion of colour, both visually and audibly, introducing us to some of our key characters. Ben Mingay immediately revels in his role as the Pirate King, making the most of every chance to add an extra flourish to the role and leading the audience to bursts of laughter. Endearing and bewildered, Alasdair Kent’s Frederic presents like a Disney prince brought to life. His former nursemaid, Ruth, played by none other than Penny Shaw, is boisterous and intentionally grotesque in her pursuit of the much younger Frederic, whom she raised.
The show is naturally overtly theatrical and completely nonsensical, which is what audiences love about it, and director Stuart Maunder AM leans into this wholeheartedly. His direction is perfectly married with simple yet effective choreography, a highlight being the daughters of Major-General Stanley cautiously shuffling around the stage as a wide-eyed group to avoid the mysterious yet alluring Frederic.
Pirates of Penzance presented by West Australian Opera. Photography by West Beach Studio.
The arrival of the Major-General, Andrew Foote, towards the end of Act One was met with cheers and claps from the audience as he marched forth in his kilt and launched into the show’s most well-known and adored song, I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General. The atmosphere in the full house during this number was buzzing, with the audience laughing and hanging onto every rapid-fire lyric.
Act Two resumes with more misadventures, shenanigans, and surprise entrances through secret doors in the set. I must mention Penny Shaw’s impressive transformation of Ruth in Act Two, from a worn and tired nursemaid to a seductive pirate. As a trio, Penny, Alasdair, and Ben are dynamic, exuberant, and hilarious.
This classic operetta finds itself entering a timeless realm with its pure silliness and campy comedy. While the show looks like incredible fun for the performers, it certainly puts them through their paces with songs jam-packed with rapid tempos, tongue-twisting lyrics, and clever wordplay. With every challenge that Gilbert and Sullivan throw their way, this cast takes it in their stride. The direction, design, and performances combine to make this production of Pirates of Penzance feel like pure celebration and light-hearted fun.
Pirates of Penzance presented by West Australian Opera is on at His Majesty’s Theatre from March 28-April 5.