The Pirates of Penzance (1985) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Norman Campbell

Writer:

William S. Gilbert (operetta)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot Keywords:

Operetta | Gilbert And Sullivan | Comic Opera | Independent Film

Cast

Brent Carver	...	Pirate King
Jeff Hyslop	...	Frederic
Caralyn Tomlin	...	Mabel
Douglas Chamberlain	...	Maj. Gen. Stanley
Pat Galloway	...	Ruth
Jim White	...	Samuel
Stephen Beamish	...	Sergeant of police
Karen Skidmore	...	Kate
Karen Wood	...	Edith
Allison Grant	...	Isabel
Wendy Abbott	...	Blue Stocking
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marion Adler	...	Chorus
Michael Beattie	...	Chorus
Aggie Cekuta	...	Chorus (as Aggie Cekuta Elliot)
Timothy Cruickshank	...	Chorus
Domenico Fiore	...	Chorus
David Gale	...	Chorus
Nigel Hamer	...	Chorus
Scott Hurst	...	Chorus
David Keeley	...	Chorus
Larry Mannell	...	Chorus
Richard March	...	Chorus
Dale Mieske	...	Chorus
Ruth Nichol	...	Chorus
Ted Pearson	...	Chorus
Jeffrey Prentice	...	Chorus
Max Reimer	...	Chorus
Lindsay Richardson	...	Chorus
Bradley C. Rudy	...	Chorus
Mark Wilson	...	Chorus

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Trivia:

Revisions to the original include added dialogue for the maidens in Act I; new final verses for "Oh, Better Far to Live and Die" and "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General"; and the ballet music for the fight between the pirates and policemen in Act II.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Pirates of Penzance (1983)

Poor Pirates.

Although an interesting interpretation, the Stratford production of "Pirates of Penzance" failed to do the original material justice. Like most post-Papp productions, this one attempted to turn the operetta into a more traditional musical. What this amounted to was ultimately extended dancing and almost every number ending in a tableau. Much of the dialog was extended but added little. The dancing was decent, but few of the actors' voices were really exquisite.

Norman Campbell seems to be the major problem of the production. The actors look as though they'd been directed to milk their parts for laughs, and some of the genuinely funny parts of the libretto seemed considerably less humorous after the many other effective, but cheap laughs. Campbell also falls into the category of directors who don't believe an audience can sit through an overture and feels the need to place dancers on stage throughout the overture, sometimes even talking over the orchestra.

Of note, however, was Pat Galloway as Ruth, whose sometimes rough voice suited the character fabulously.

The quality of this specific taping was pretty dismal. Although the production was partly to blame, the camera operators didn't quite seem sure of what they were doing.

In conclusion, it's a mediocre production, but worth a look if you're interested in other version of the operetta.