Pirates of Penzance is my personal favourite Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, though I have a big soft spot for them all. The story may be somewhat silly, but the humour is infectiously witty and the music is amazing. This Pirates of Penzance is one of the better ones I've seen, no surprises considering it is from Opera Australia, responsible for the best Trial By Jury on DVD and equally enormously enjoyable productions of HMS Pinafore, Patience and The Gondoliers. In terms of costumes and sets it is a very colourful and creative production visually, and while there are too many close-ups of Anthony Warlow the video directing captures the action very well. The staging is full of crisp energy with never a dull moment, many times without feeling too overdone it is continually moving. The orchestral playing is very robust and the conducting keeps the pace impeccably, the omission of the Overture is a disappointment but not enough to hamper the performance hugely. The performances are great fun. Anthony Warlow I have always considered a terrific singing actor, and here as the Pirate King is no exception. Channelling Captain Jack Sparrow perfectly, he shows a beautiful baritone voice and acts with swagger and appealing eccentricity. I don't think there is a better Police Sergeant on DVD than Richard Alexander, his facial expressions and body language are just priceless and he is note-perfect vocally. John Bolton-Wood's Major General is done with such gusto and comic timing that he is a breath of fresh air to watch, and he handles the difficult pattering very well. David Hobson still has that lovely honeyed lyric tone to his voice, and his Fredric is positively charming, while Taryn Fiebig's Mabel complete with dazzling colouratura is the same. Suzanne Johnson is sympathetic and funny as Ruth and Andrew Brunsden is a strong Samuel. The sisters are alluring, the pirates energetic and the policemen hilarious. The ensembles are well put together and well-tuned. In conclusion, I loved the energy and performances, this Pirates of Penzance is a jewel. 10/10 Bethany Cox
