‘Pirates’ great entertainment

OPERA Otago is midseason at Dunedin’s Mayfair Theatre, with a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance.

Opening night on Thursday was great entertainment for the almost capacity audience, as a cast brimming with (mostly) youthful enthusiasm, brought this operetta to life.

Opera Otago is to be congratulated in appointing younger, relatively inexperienced people in key production rolls, to create this successful wellpaced show.

Director Nadya ShawBennett had at her disposal a large group of talented local singers, and the chorus work was outstanding — clear diction and slick movement, disciplined, innovative choreography (Shona Bennett), with a steampunk theme adding novel embellishment to the usual Victorian costuming (Sofie Welvaert).

Eight members from Dunedin Symphony Orchestra provided professional musical backing, confidently directed by honours student Sam van Betuw.

The traditional overture was visually enhanced by a projected ocean panorama, with occasional vignettes of a suspiciouslooking seagoing vessel. The plot unfolded with reasonable clarity after original nursemaid Ruth (Claire Barton) explained to Frederic (Harry Grigg) he had been apprenticed to a pirate instead of a pilot.

Frederic’s 21st birthday became complicated by the revelation he was born in a leap year, but the course of true love eventually ran true for Frederic and Mabel, his beautiful maiden (Beth Goulstone).

Grigg and Goulstone, both graduating voice students at the University of Otago, have sung together many times, resulting in secure acting and vocal balance for numbers such as ‘‘Poor Wand’ring One’’ and ‘‘Stay Fred’ric Stay’’.

Chris Keogh led the pirate gang with his Lieutenant (Nick Tipa). Sergeant of Police Scott Bezett assembled his bumbling policemen with a reasonable amount of humour. Erica Patterson (as Edith), Courtney Hickmott (Kate) and Josie Frazer (Isabel) supported Mabel and the bevy of beautiful maidens, all daughters of MajorGeneral Stanley (John McCallum).

With plenty of humour throughout, catchy songs and strongly delivered chorus scenes there are four more opportunities to attend, including a matinee tomorrow and 6pm on Tuesday.