Dedicated to the performance of some very specific works, the CU Gilbert and Sullivan Society certainly know how to put on a good show. With their production of HMS Pinafore at West Road Concert Hall, they manage to balance the humour and the musical complexity of this well-known piece. Having assembled a huge cast and orchestra, Zoe Morris steers this vessel solidly through the sea of operetta, with cast and audience disembarking equally content and entertained.

Taking on a work that has been performed so many times, in many ways, is not an easy task. Morris and her team have clearly worked hard to deliver a unique vision of the show, combining the best of the traditional events and the playfulness of a modern approach. While we are definitely onboard the HMS Pinafore, we are very aware that the characters are embodying 21st-century values. The central love story concerns Josephine, the captain’s daughter (played with vocal beauty and humorous charm by Tiffany Charnley), and her apparently inappropriate romance with a mere sailor, Ralph (the comically un-self aware Max Noble, who sings his way through the score like a pro).

“...theatrical multitasking at its best”

The supporting cast of misfit sailors and the ladies they encounter are a true team, who blend and mix both in their acting and their magnificent delivery of the choral numbers. This is quite an achievement, given that they remain as firmly defined individual characters throughout and not simply a static chorus – theatrical multitasking at its best. While remaining largely written, I am not sure that Gilbert would have recognised these gender roles or portrayal of social realities. The audience, on the other hand, get a refreshing take on well-trodden ground (and decks) and delight in the playfulness of what is being presented.

“Luke Thomas as Captain Corcoran clearly delights in every second of silliness, while never missing a moment of the music”

The strength of the principal roles makes the evening sail full speed ahead. Luke Thomas as Captain Corcoran clearly delights in every second of silliness, while never missing a moment of the music. Whether singing a lament to the pale moon, or skipping around in a hearty comic trio, he is a joy to watch. He is joined by Anna-Luise Wagner as the feisty and energetic Buttercup, who boasts a resonant quality in her voice, matched only by the hilarious timing of her facial expressions. Here is a lady who knows how to put a man in his place. Michael Morrison as Sir Joseph completes the line up, with his crisp delivery, perfect diction, and ability to keep the audience laughing exactly as long as is needed to feed into the next line of the music.

“The subtleties of Sullivan's score are explored with relish”

The score itself is handled gorgeously under the musical direction of Tristan Selden, who keeps the clarity of the skilled orchestra balanced with the clarity of the voices. Selden is equally capable of handling the sweet ballads and the brilliantly rousing chorus numbers, and there is a definite sense that the music rehearsal has been every big as rigorous as that of the drama and acting. This clearly wasn’t (as sometimes seems to be the case) a band of musicians drawn together at the last minute, and the subtleties of Sullivan’s score are explored with relish.

Review: London Road

While HMS Pinafore may never be as emotionally engaging as more modern opera (and certain elements of musical theatre), the joy and the excitement shines through. The complexity of the music, the power with which the evening is presented, and the skill behind delivering the comedy to a fresh audience all result in a very successful voyage with the G&S Society