Review: Sasha Regan’s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Stream.Theatre (Online)

Photo credit: Danny Kaan

Back by popular demand, Sasha Regan’s award-winning, all-male version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s comedy operetta The Pirates of Penzance is now available to watch online via stream.theatre.

Filmed during their recent 2-night run at the Palace Theatre London in December, the show is the perfect way to lift everyone’s spirits and keep us all going until theatres can reopen again.

The Pirates of Penzance tells the story of Frederic, a dutiful, young man who has just finished his apprenticeship with a band of pirates, having been accidentally apprenticed to them by his hard of hearing nurse, Ruth. Once on land, he meets Mabel, falling in love, but their course to happiness is not all smooth sailing, as the Pirate King and Mabel’s father, the Major General, have become sworn enemies, leaving Frederic torn between the two. A position only made more complicated by the discovery that, due a misunderstanding with his birth date, Frederic is still duty-bound to help the pirates against his future father-in-law. 

With wonderful choreography by Lizzie Gee and fantastic performances by the entire cast, this show has something the whole family can enjoy.

Robyn Wilson-Owen’s simple staging allows the cast to really shine, and the costumes are particularly effective, with just minor changes applied to show when a member of the ensemble had become a different character. The use of props is brilliant too, with a highlight being when we are introduced to the Major General’s horse (ably played by a sweeping brush!) This moment also gives a nod to the pandemic times we are living in, which is appreciated by the (socially distanced) audience that were in attendance during the filmed performance. It also serves to give the show an updated, fresh feel.

This show features incredible vocal performances from the entire cast, but a special mention must go to Alan Richardson as Mabel, who handles her, often very difficult, songs with ease.

There’s a very strong lead performance from Tom Senior as Frederic, supported by the swashbuckling charm of Oliver Savile as the Pirate King, the wonderful David McKechnie as the Major General (who greatly impresses during his song, ‘Modern Major General’), and Leon Craig’s hilarious turn as Ruth. 

The entire cast have fantastic comic timing, with a particular mention to the ensemble of the piece (James Chidzey, Tom Duern, Joel Elferink, Matthew Facchino, Daniel Miles, and Benjamin Vivian-Jones), whose antics, performances, and reactions to the action onstage provide hilarity the whole way through.

With a runtime of just under 2 hours, this show is the perfect way to spend an evening, but be quick to grab your tickets Besties, as it is only streaming until 5 April.

****' Four and a half stars

Reviewed by: Amy Louise

Sasha Regan’s The Pirates of Penzance is streaming online until Monday 5 April. To book tickets, please click here.