UK Theatre Network

A British tar is a soaring soul,
               As free as a mountain bird,
          His energetic fist should be ready to resist
               A dictatorial word.

Opera della Luna was formed in 1994 to create new and innovative productions of musical theatre, comic opera and operetta in English, and to tour them to mid-scale venues all over Britain. Now the acclaimed company of The Merry Widow fame come to Richmond with their abridged version of HMS Pinafore – Gilbert and Sullivan’s first blockbuster hit of 1878.

Satirising the  snobbery and hypocrisy of the English class system of its day, HMS Pinafore is a comic tale of love, class pretensions and mistaken identities. Jeff Clarke, the director, chose Dickens as a point of reference for his production. Clarke states that like Dickens, Gilbert’s greatest fascination is with the middle class, who can so quickly be elevated to elegance and luxury on the one hand, and so easily reduced to penury and misery on he other. This is an interesting approach and I could see the slightly Dickensian touch in the production.  

There are many good things to be said about this show. The ensemble work is admirable and there are wonderful performances by the actors /singers, especially by the charming Louise Crane as Little Buttercup, the witty Ian Belsey as Captain Corcoran and the outrageously funny Simon Butteriss as Sir Joseph. The show is fast-paced and very entertaining. There were many delightful scenes such as Sir Joseph’s delivery of I’m the Monarch of the Sea or Never Mind the Why and Wherefore However, there seemed to be a lack of direction at times, particularly in the first half of the show. Some of the actions did not seem to be well choreographed. I can see why the director felt it might be a good idea to provide some action for the audience during the overture but watching the crew scrub the floor and carry props around was more distracting than captivating.

HMS Pinafore is definitely worth seeing because of the talented ensemble and Gilbert and Sullivan’s unforgettable music.

The show runs until 18 June 2010 at the Richmond Theatre.