Sasha Regan brings to the stage another all-male cast production. The latest one is a Gilbert and Sullivan classic comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. Which was first staged in 1879 in New York City and then in London in 1880. Proving that these works by the famous duo have stood the test the time and continue to reach audiences almost 150 years on.

The pirates are too “soft” to make a living from robbing and pillaging, especially to anyone who tells them that they are also orphans and have no one to help them in life. However, the naivety of the pirates also allows others to take advantage of them, which sadly happens quite often.

Frederic (Cameron McAllister) has announced he leaving the boat to start a new life on the mainland. The hasty decision leaves the other pirates in shock and the 47-year-old “mother figure” Ruth (Robert Wilkes) thought she was going to be married to the 21-year-old. Frederic has never seen another female before and attempts to diplomatically ask if there’s potentially better-looking women in the world. I think we can guess the answer to that one!

The cast are engaging and funny throughout the production. When Major General Stanley’s (David McKechnie) daughters enter the stage suspension of disbelief takes over and you look beyond the male casting. The exaggerated female roles offer funny female characteristics that would be at home in a Jane Austin novel and not recognised in modern-day society.

My favourite musical numbers during the performance are in Act Two when the Sergeant of Police (Lewis Kennedy) and police officers march on and sing using their false moustaches. Choreographer Lizzi Gee uses the officers marching onto the stage to add some law and order to the chaos created by the pirates and the daughters. However, it is short-lived as they too begin to add their additions to the march.

With twenty-eight musical numbers throughout the two-act performances musical director Giannis Giannapoulos accompanies the cast flawlessly with each song.

This version of  The Pirates of Penzance is another successful, funny and entertaining production by director Sasha Regan and the Regan De Wynter Williams production team. It is certainly, one I would highly recommend to go and watch if is performed at a Theatre near you.

For more information about Pirates of Penzance please click on the links below.

Five Stars.

Photo credit Srylander Press.

https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/whats-on/pirates-penzance

https://www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk/

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Tue 08 Oct 2024 – Sat 12 Oct 2024
Regan De Wynter Williams Productions
Present
Sasha Regan’s Award Winning

The Pirates of Penzance
By W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan

Sasha Regan’s internationally acclaimed all-male production of The Pirates of Penzance returns.