H.M.S. Pinafore

Ralph Rackstraw is a lowly sailor who has fallen in love with his Captain's daughter, Josephine. Josephine, in turn, is to be married to Sir Joseph Porter (K.C.B). Meanwhile, Buttercup, a local peddlar woman, loves the captain from afar. Is romance destined to die or will love level the social ranks and unite the would-be couples?

This is a stage production by the D'Oyly Carte Company which has been especially produced for video. As such, some of the acting can appear over the top but, if you take this into account and enjoy a bit of Gilbert & Sullivan, it is an excellent production. John Reed manages to steal the show with his rendition of 'Never Mind The Whys and Wherefores'. He will have you laughing until your sides hurt. You will watch this scene over and over again... I guarantee it!!

I will declare an interest. HMS Pinafore was my introduction to G&S when I was a lad back in 1975. So I have very great affection for it. But sadly, not for this production.

The problem is that this production sots awkwardly between the live stage show, and a film version. Accordingly, the exaggerated gestures and facial expressions necessary for the former come across here as over acting, John Ayldon being a prime example. And John Reed's stage "business", hilarious in a live show, here looks contrived and awkward. As for the end " business" between the Captain & Buttercup, that is painfully unamusing to the point of looking nasty.

Michael Rayner is not my favourite Captain. Yes, he sings the part superbly, and he looks good. But his performance is too dark and intense, giving the impression of a doomed Mayor of Casterbridge type character, and this is G&S, not Thomas Hardy. Malcolm Williams as Ralph can sing, but he cannot act, and he certainly cannot dance. As for the chorus, it is obvious that Barry Clark was an understudy since he pulls more faces than Lon Chaney, whilst it is obvious that William Palmerley was not an understudy since he stands there like a piece of wood.

OK to the good performances. Pamela Field is very good as Josephine, managing to bring both sadness, and comedy, to the role. And Jon Ellison as Bill Bobstay manages to steal all his scenes with Ralph, for a romantic lead to be upstaged by a minor character says something about this production (OK, WSG himself would probably find it hilarious!)

The set looks nice, and I liked the little touch of Malcolm Coy playing the ship's Number One. Also a word for Graham Bull as Tom Tucker, yes its a very minor role, but it needs to played properly, and Graham puts in a nice little cameo.

Quite frankly, this version is suitable as nostalgia for those who saw the original D'Oyly Carte Company, but those who did not are best advised to leave this one for the veterans, and to go and see a modern production.

I do love Gilbert and Sullivan a great deal, even if it did take some time to fully understand some of the dialogue and lyrics. I did highly the 1997 and 2005 productions(both I believe from Australia), but this is my favourite HMS Pinafore of all, much better than the Frankie Howerd D'Oyly Carte production at any rate. It is a traditional and handsome production, with a more than convincing ship set and elegant costuming. The video directing and picture quality don't cheapen the performance in any way either, one would hope that a DVD will come in due course with hopefully even sharper picture, but what we have on VHS is fine. The sound is acceptable. The orchestral playing is buoyant yet allowing for sensitivity when needed, and the conducting is respectful to the score and lets it skip along as it should do. The chorus sing beautifully, and while they are not quite the sort of chorus that never stops moving like the Australia productions they are not stone-faced, static or posturing like in the Frankie Howerd production. The stage business is full of energy while never resorting to mincing or overdone unsubtleties. The dialogue and lyrics are still deliciously witty, and do feel like G&S, instead of additions that jars or come across as lowbrow instead. The performances are really excellent as well. Michael Raynor sings and acts with charisma and good sense of comic timing as the Captain, though on VHS/DVD my personal favourite is Anthony Warlow. Malcolm Williams is a dashing Ralph and Pamela Field a beguiling Josephine, while Lyndsie Holland is characterful Buttercup and her singing is not too strident either and John Ayldon is funny as Deadeye without quite being wicked. The best asset is easily the magnificent Sir Joseph of John Reed. He sings beautifully doing justice to his patter with aplomb, and he has a gift for comedy with his renditions of When I was a Lad and especially Never Mind The Whys and Wherefores enough to make your sides split. In conclusion, really wonderful, it promised to be faithful to G&S and it was exactly that. On top of that, it was funny, handsome to look at and very well sung and acted. 10/10 Bethany Cox