TORONTO STAR WEEK IN REVIEWS
THEATRE
Pirates ship-shape
Cat-like tread or not,
the Toronto Operetta production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates
Of Penzance barely puts a foot wrong.
One magical moment to
illustrate many: Soprano Jane Archibald is trilling her way through
Mabel’s aria "Poor Wandering One" with effortless beauty. She
even manages to throw in a little Lucia di Lammermoor and Magic Flute
for good measure.
Her Frederick (the
multitasking Fred Love), meanwhile, has borrowed a real flute from the
orchestra and is skilfully accompanying her. Not enough that the guy has a fine
tenor voice and good stage presence, he’s no slouch on the flute either.
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Fred Love as Frederic and Jane Archibald as Mabel |
Directed by Guillermo
Silva-Marin and conducted by Derek Bate, this production capitalizes on its strengths
and deftly diverts attention away from a couple of (albeit minor) weaknesses.
The focus is on the
voices and this all-Canadian cast acquits itself with honour. I don’t
think I’ve heard a better trio of matched G&S voices than those of
Archibald, Love and impressive baritone Alexander Dobson, who steals most of
the scenes he’s in as a wonderfully flamboyant and occasionally
scenery-chewing Pirate King.
And not far behind are
Jon-Paul Décosse’s growling Police Sergeant and Deborah Overes as
piratical maid-of-all-work Ruth.
Grant Cowan’s Major
General Stanley acts the part with considerable comic flare and detail but his
major "patter" song is sluggish and poorly articulated.
The ever-popular G&S
classic about incompetent pirates courting a bevy of Major-General
Stanley’s ineligible daughters is treated both lovingly and decently,
with staging and choreography that is simple yet clever. The tiny orchestra
works extremely hard and effectively, although there are times when the lack of
numbers does tell.
I caught Friday’s
preview; the show continues at the St. Lawrence Centre’s Jane Mallett
Theatre until April 27.
Arts Writer Robert Crew
|
Jane Archibald as Mabel, Deborah
Dowey as Edith and Martha Spence in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates
of Penzance |
Opera/Operetta
Reviews - Apr. 26/02
TORONTO
OPERETTA THEATRE - "THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE"
Toronto
Operetta Theatre's "The Pirates of Penzance" is one of their best
productions to date. Director Guillermo Silva-Marin restrained his buffo urges
to create attractive stage business, while Derek Bate conducted a crackerjack
little ensemble. Diction was so good among the cast of singing actors,
particularly mezzo soprano Deborah Overes as Ruth, that one could hear most of
Gilbert's clever lyrics, except for talented coloratura soprano Janet Archibald
as Mabel who sang like an angel nonetheless. Tenor Fred Love made an effective
if Broadway-style Frederick, but the big surprise was baritone Alexander Dobson
who was positively charismatic as the Pirate King.
"The
Pirates of Penzance" continues at the Jane Mallett Theatre until Saturday.
I'm Paula
Citron, arts reviewer for CLASSICAL 96.3 FM.
Visit www.torontooperetta.com