Applause for sell-out centenary Pirates show
A capacity audience filled Academy Hall on Saturday, August 5, to hear Perth City Opera Group perform a concert version of Pirates of Penzance.
The show was part of the Crieff Remembers programme with the performance replicating that given by the Strathearn Operatic Society in the same venue more than 100 years ago – when the venue was known as the Porteous Hall.
In April 1915, it hosted the Gilbert and Sullivan classic in aid of the Red Cross and SSAFA.
On Saturday, a witty linking narrative, substituting the original dialogue, followed the twists and turns of Gilbert’s storyline, and was delivered with panache by Perth City Opera Group’s musical director, Andy MacDonald.
There were stunning performances from Loryn Cura (Mabel) and Mike Melrose (Frederick), and Mark Murphy’s occasionally updated version of‘I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General’fully merited the warm applause it received.
The whole cast gave an excellent and entertaining performance of this perennial favourite, and were admirably supported by a small and enthusiastic orchestra under the energetic direction of Andy MacDonald. It was all, as G&S should be, great fun. In recognition of the theme of Crieff Remembers, Comrie’s Matthew McPhail – wearing the uniform of a First World War soldier – read three letters received from the Front, providing sombre and graphic detail of the Great War.
All three letters are part of the Crieff Remembers exhibition, which runs at Strathearn Artspace until 4pm this Saturday. A collection in aid of SSAFA following the performance raised £223.