The Pirates of Penzance

What can be said about the Pirates of Penzance? Catchy lyrics, hilarious story lines and some of Sullavin's best music, this show is a delight! I was lucky enough to see this wonderful production live and I loved it, and so I went and bought the DVD. Of course, nothing can really compare to the live version, but it as a truly great DVD and a joy to watch. The scenery was original, interesting and funny, the costumes superb, and Warlow's take-off of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)was amazingly good. All the singers were amazing, and gave their characters their own touch. The orchestra matched the singing for quality and beauty, and it didn't have that awful Australian habit of drowning out the actors.

I love it how they kept so true to the original ideas, yet added a few little comments about P&Os and the like without going overboard and making a mockery of the show. Adding in "My Eyes Are Fully Open" (originally from the G&S "Ruddigore") was a risk, but it was fully paid off. It shows amazing teamwork between Warlow, Hobson and Johnston, and I'm sure most people sit there with their mouths open at the sheer speed at which they manage to sing! The Pirates of Penzance is suitable for anyone: young or old, opera-loving or opera-illiterate.