The Pirates of Penzance

Kelly Jobanputra checks out the recent Glitter & Twisted Theatre Company production at the Arts Centre

 

 

Review of The Pirates of Penzance

By Kelly Jobanputra

Having never seen or read anything about The Pirates of Penzance (I know - shocking!), I really did not know what to expect when watching Glitter & Twisted Theatre Company's production of it at the Arts Centre in Swindon last Friday (26th Feb).

Well I and the rest of the audience were in for a real treat. The show was attention grabbing from the very start and moved at a pace that kept everyone interested and hooked all the way through.

 

This Gilbert & Sullivan masterpiece, which is about a bunch of girls who end up on a beach which is over run with pirates, was an updated version that was set in 1953.

We were first greeted by this string of female characters as they come into the theatre from the audience entrance and end up walking straight past every one onto the stage, and from that moment on - they were all mesmerising.

Every single one of the performers who played the part of the daughters of Major General Stanley really deserved the huge round of applause they got at the end of the night. They had faultless vocal ranges, hilarious facial expressions and believable stage presences.

 

But the real star of the show award needs to go to the character of Daddy - otherwise known as the fore mentioned Major.

This character was exceptional and stole the show with his rapid, amusing rendition of 'I am the very model of a modern Major-General.' The man behind this role really warranted a huge amount of respect for his effortless performance of this song alone.

The night featured other familiar tunes from this show, including 'A Policeman's Lot' and 'Poor Wand'ring One'. All of which were belted out with true gusto.

What makes this particular production especially relevant is the fact that the musical is set on a leap-year day and the final performance of the run also happens to end on this day that only happens every four years (Feb 29th.)

A great evening's entertainment that was the perfect length to hold your attention. (4 out of 5)