HMS PINAFORE

Bright and Brilliant

A University of St Andrews Gilbert and Sullivan Society Production

04/11/22-05/11/22 The Byre Theatre, St Andrews.

Music Directors: Kylie Lam and Alasdair Richmond

Artistic Directors: Peter Black and Jamie Cizej

Producers: Louise Anderbjork and Louise Stevenson

Written by: Arthur Sullivan and William Schwenck Gilbert

Reviewed by Noor Zohdy

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of HMS Pinafore is as humorous as it is spirited. Every character maintains a brisk, theatrical presence, and there is a sense of rhythm in how they act, dance, and sing together with the music and each other. The musical talents of the entire cast are remarkable. Harmonising voice, movement, and emotion, and maintaining a jovial, lighthearted presence, the play simply fills the viewer with wonder.

Dick Deadeye (Alex Dingley) conveys a hilariously ironic character and truly colours the stage. Boatswain (Jamie Cizej) is energetic, lively, and especially enlivens the humorous conclusion. Josephine (Amy Dunn) and Maeve (Catriona Kadirkamanathan) make for an incredible duo. The two are both comic and heartrending. Both are torn at first from marrying the other despite their love. In one scene, this is manifested in a duet where they sing of their heart's true wishes in alternating and then a harmonising aside to the audience. It is a beautiful moment, wonderfully carried.

Captain Corcoran (Dylan Swain) is, too, unforgettable. His stage presence is incredibly bright and lively. Everything, from how he walks, trips and runs illuminates his character and the entire stage. His interactions with Sir Joseph (James Forshaw) are particularly comic. Sir Joseph brilliantly creates comedy in his very gestures and brilliantly expressive tones of voice. He manages to entirely inhabit the satirical role of his character and create a comic effect at every turn. Buttercup (Georgie Duncan) is one of the most brightly lit on stage and seems to dance even when she’s walking, carrying herself with a sweeping stage presence, which furthers her flighty nature and heightens the lighthearted sense of the entire show.

The entire cast is able to create a glowing performance. Watching their incredible talents in harmony is a joy to behold. Not only do they sing and move in balance with one another, but their acting is responsive, and every cast member seems to really belong on stage and within the story. For instance, the chorus does a brilliant job of ironically mimicking the key singers’ words and gestures creating a comic and vivacious presence. I also found the actor’s engagement with the audience to be effective throughout the production. Characters will sincerely turn to the audience in comic disbelief, sympathy, ironic disdain, and humorous triumph. This heightens the theatrical comedy and the colouring of the individual characters while making the audience feel near the action. The play even goes beyond the stage with several high-spirit moments occurring off-stage. One particularly humorous is when the Captain chases the Boatswain around the entire theatre, ending with the Boatswain’s comic scream of fright as he makes for the curtain.

The entire production seems to dash past. It really feels as if it is over far too soon and makes for an unforgettable performance. The production is brightly lit up by the characters, music, and spirit. This rendition of HMS Pinafore is altogether delightful. A wonderful narrative illuminated by humour, jocularity, heart, and light.