The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

The Pirates of Penzance at the London Coliseum

The Pirates of Penzance at the London Coliseum | Theatre review
10 February 2017
Mersa Auda
Mersa Auda
Avatar
Mersa Auda
10 February 2017

Theatre review

Mersa Auda

Pirates on Penzance

★★★★★

Dates

9th February - 25th March 2017

Price

From £26

BUY TICKETS

Links & directions

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteMap

The English National Opera’s relationship with Gilbert and Sullivan continues to thrive. After The Mikado, which has been a staple production of the company for over 25 years, The Pirates of Penzance is another hit that never fails to satisfy theatre-goers. This year’s revival, originally directed by Mike Leigh and now reprised by Sarah Tipple, is no exception. First performed in 1880, the comic opera relies heavily on oxymorons and paradoxes.

Since birth, young Frederic finds himself at the centre of sticky situations. On the coast of Cornwall, a band of pirates is celebrating his 21st birthday, which also marks the last day of his apprenticeship with the soft-hearted sea rovers. It soon transpires that Frederic’s involvement with them was the result of a mix-up: Frederic’s father had instructed the boy’s nurse maid to have him apprenticed as a pilot, but the lady, who is hard of hearing, mistook the word for “pirate”.

The inexperienced lad resolves to leave the criminal life behind, but as he takes his first independent steps, a series of hilarious predicaments befall him. He is introduced to the fairer sex (he had only known his nurse maid and considered marrying her for lack of choice), he falls in love with Mabel, the no-nonsense daughter of Major-General Stanley (a most knowledgeable man who knows very little about military affairs), and he is finally faced with an absurdly imposed duty that binds him to the pirates for much, much longer than anticipated.

The set consists of a striking blue backdrop with a large circular hole in its midst through which characters emerge. Other boldly coloured screens of different geometrical shapes slide in and out to form layers, creating abstract formations. The set cannot be said to create an atmosphere in any way and is a little at odds with the Victorian costumes. It does, however, give the show a modern edge and helps it shed, to an extent, the classical quality that may weigh it down and make it too safe and tame.

Both vocally and in terms of stage presence, the cast does not disappoint, and the comic timing is spot on. There are a couple of clumsy moments during the choreographies but they will no doubt be smoothed out as the the show settles and solidifies. The irresistibly uplifting score and genuinely amusing text provide much substance in themselves, but the elegant touch of the ENO group is felt throughout, and it does full justice to this timeless piece.

★★★★★

Mersa Auda
Photo: Tom Bowles

The Pirates of Penzance is at the London Coliseum from 9th February until 25th March 2017. Book your tickets here.

Related Itemsfeaturedreview

More in Theatre

The Ocean at the End of the Lane at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Brooke Snowe
Read More

“Sting always makes me want to choreograph”: An interview with ZooNation director Kate Prince

Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

A Kind of People at the Royal Court Theatre

★★★★★
Connor Campbell
Read More

Thriller Live at Lyric Theatre

★★★★★
Sophia Moss
Read More

The Snow Queen at Park Theatre

★★★★★
Ghazaleh Golpira
Read More

Three Sisters at the National Theatre

Michael Higgs
Read More

The Duchess of Malfi at Almeida Theatre

★★★★★
Connor Campbell
Read More

A Taste of Honey at Trafalgar Studios

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

Christmas Carol: A Fairy Tale at Wilton’s Music Hall

★★★★★
Grace Walsh
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Mersa Auda

Pirates on Penzance

★★★★★

Dates

9th February - 25th March 2017

Price

From £26

BUY TICKETS

Links & directions

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteMap

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Five of the best Christmas afternoon teas in London
    Food & Drinks
  • Three Sisters at the National Theatre
    Theatre
  • IT London in Mayfair: Authentic and refined Italian dishes in a swanky restaurant
    ★★★★★
    Food & Drinks
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Jumanji: The Next Level
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Pulse Light Clinic: Laser hair removal review
    Fashion & Lifestyle
  • “Sting always makes me want to choreograph”: An interview with ZooNation director Kate Prince
    Theatre
  • A Kind of People at the Royal Court Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • IT London in Mayfair: Authentic and refined Italian dishes in a swanky restaurant
    ★★★★★
    Food & Drinks
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • IT London in Mayfair: Authentic and refined Italian dishes in a swanky restaurant
    ★★★★★
    Food & Drinks
  • The Snow Queen at Park Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Three Sisters at the National Theatre
    Theatre
  • A Taste of Honey at Trafalgar Studios
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

Saint Motel at Scala| Live review
Beware of Pity at the Barbican | Theatre review