ACT Reviews 2022-2023 Season

captured the fun and drama whilst the ladies displayed Victorian virtues. Musically the standard was high. “Hail Poetry”, and the act two double chorus, “When A foeman bares his steel”, displayed the group’s vocal talents. The reduced orchestra did not take anything away from Sullivan’s much-loved score: their playing was first class. The cameo roles of Samuel, the Pirate Lieutenant (Adrian Davison), The Major-General’s daughters, Edith (Rebecca Tonge), Kate (Becky Woolstencroft) and Isabel (Janice Jorden) were all played with conviction adding to the storytelling. Those sea-faring robbers looked as though they had stepped out of a Victorian “Penny Dreadful”. The daughters playfully entered supporting the main action and the British “Bobby” had jollification using their monarch to save the day. The strong characterised ensemble playing gave the production extra depth.

Enter Richard, the Pirate chief, or should I say, the Pirate King, played quite royally by Dave Seager. Dave took charge of his motley crew; all his character details came out in performance. We first meet the buccaneers celebrating Frederic’s birthday, “Pour oh pour, the pirate sherry”. Among the gang is the piratical maid of all work, Ruth. Jill Ratcliffe found the comedy and had fun as Frederic’s former nursemaid. Playing on the apprentice pirate’s naivety Ruth thinks Frederic is hers until he sees Mabel who sings out to him “Poor wand’ring one”. Sofie Haig-Smith vocally charmed not only Frederic but the “birds

from the trees” with her singing. The slave of duty himself, Frederic, was colourfully portrayed by Ben Drane. There was plenty of energy and plenty of romance with Mabel. The situation had turned a little difficult with the famous Pirates of Penzance threatening to marry Stanley’s daughters. One of the most