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Epicurus.com - Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Jon English, Simon Gallaher, Helen Donaldson, Toni Lamond, Derek Metzger, Tim Tyler, Craig Schaffer
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List Price: $29.99
Our Price: $26.99
Your Save: $ 3.00 ( 10% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
Starring: Jon English, Helen Donaldson, Toni Lamond, Derek Metzger, Tim Tyler (II)
Directed By: Peter Butler (IV), Craig Schaefer (II)
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0032031408791
Format: Classical
Label: Kultur Video
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Kultur Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-07-25
Running Time: 115
Studio: Kultur Video
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Related Items
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- Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne
- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)
- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer, Richard Angas, Bonaventura Bottone, Susan Bullock, English National Opera
- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Gondoliers / David Hobson, Roger Lemke, Australian Opera
- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Reed, Adams, Potter, Masterson, Godfrey, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
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Editorial Reviews:
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Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious comic operetta tells the story of the orphan Frederic. The son of a wealthy 19th century man, Frederic’s fate takes a sudden twist when, after his father’s death, his hard-of-hearing nursemaid finds him an apprenticeshop as a pirate instead of a pilot! He fulfills his apprenticeship with not just any old pirate, rather, it’s with the Pirate King himself, the leader of the not-so-fierce "Pirates of Penzance." But now at age 21 and with his indenture ending, Frederic’s sense of duty calls him to rid the seas of his former friends. Despite their track record, the pirates believe they have an ace up their collective sleeves, a way of keeping Frederic amongst them... Starring Jon English, Simon Gallaher and Toni Lamond, this delightful rollicking story includes some of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most famous tunes, including "I am a Pirate King" and "(I Am The Very Model Of) A Modern Major General." "Fast…spectacular…a blaze of action" The Bulletin
"Inspired…fiercely energetic…splendid" Sydney Morning Herald Jon English The Pirate King; Marc James Samuel, his Lieutenant; Simon Gallaher Frederic; Toni Lamond Ruth, a Pirate Maid; The Fabulous Singlettes Major-General Stanley’s Daughters; Helen Donaldson Mabel; Derek Metzger Major-General Stanley; Tim Tyler The Sergeant. Also starring David Coombs, Robert Dale, Michael Flazon, Marc James, Gary Jones, David Lowe, Emma Powell, Peter Rees, David Scotchford, Jason Smith, Anthony Weigh, Lachlan Youngberg, Jenny Wilson Ensemble.
Recorded live at the Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Australia, November 5, 1994.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful entertainment!
Comment: This Australian production of "The Pirates of Penzance" is totally hilarious. I would only recommend it to those who are not G&S purists. I'm sure that Gilbert would be rolling in his grave if he were to see it. However, I'm always happy to have fun with "camped up" versions of G&S productions as well as those true to the original production.
Jon English makes an unforgettable and totally hilarious Pirate King. Simon Gallaher, (Frederick), as well as Helen Donaldson make a beautiful couple. The entire cast and orchestra are outstanding.
I highly recommend it!!
Laurie
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wow! What a stunner.
Comment: I first saw this production on Sky and was thrilled to get the D.V.D. from Amazon. Gilbert and Sullivan purists may hate this interpretation but in my opinion operetta is meant to be light hearted fun, and I think G & S would approve. When I want serious I view grand opera at Covent Garden.
The singing and acting were superb and the comedy sketches hillarious without being farcical.
Jon English, well what can I say? Totally brilliant!
More uplifting than Prozac, more fun than a night out with the girls, my perfect stay at home feel good D.V.D
Customer Rating:
Summary: Delightfully fun
Comment: While this production may not quite stick to the 'spirit' that G&S intended, it is possibly one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Pirates is meant to be a comedy, and this makes it more so. It may possibly be that some of the humour will not translate to an international market (it's an Australian production), but a lot of it will.
All the singers are fantastic, possibly the weakest singer is Jon English (the Pirate King) but he makes up for any small inadequacies in his voice with the absolutely amazing energy of his performance. Ruth is played by a veteran of Australian stage, Toni Lamond.
The two best singers are Mabel and Frederick, as they should be.
If you want to watch a fun production, this is what you should watch.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A totally new angle on G&S
Comment: If you are a G & S afficionado, you may find this version beyond the pale.
If on the other hand you enjoy the music and humour of these comic operas and are prepared to accept that this company seem more interested in sharing a good time with the audience, than following the script, then this is for you.
Simon Gallaher's production romps through to the finish and everyone on stage seems to be having the time of their life.
True, there are a number of liberties taken with the libretto and even, with some of the characters. But the entire cast have superb voices with the possible exception of Jon English, whose voice may not have the quality of some of the others but is used to its best advantage and is perfect for the part of the Pirate King. Jon English leads the cast with obvious enjoyment and his asides and jibes at the orchestra pit are a joy.
The lack of an orchestra, it being replaced by synthesisers and percussion, did nothing to reduce and in my opinion, occasionally increased the listener's pleasure.
This is one of three productions from this company and is, to me, the best. It is upbeat and this antipodean angle on the original is a pleasure to behold.
I recommend this to music lovers and lovers of comic opera, but not to those who want their G & S exactly as, originally, written.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fun, frothy and silly
Comment: If you are after traditional G&S, you've definitely come to the wrong place. This version is fun, frothy and silly, extensively "modernised", with little bits added and with electronic music. This production, with Jon English (Pirate King) and Simon Gallaher, first opened in Sydney in 1984 - just a fabulous night out - and personally I preferred it to what it had evolved to ten or so years later (the 1984 version launched the unknown Marina Prior, had a larger chorus of far more "normal" sisters, featured David Atkins as a sparklingly energetic and very tiny Sargeant, and June Bronhill - a real opera singer - as a delightful Ruth).
It's inevitable that some parts will not please everyone. Some changes enhance it, some seem like change for the sake of change... after all there ARE good reasons this show from the 1870s is still so loved! For example, I love the energy, enthusiasm and dancing ability of anything involving the Pirates and the men's chorus. On the other hand I can't stand the not-so-Fabulous-Singlettes, three singers who play "the ladies chorus" - if I was Frederic faced with a choice of marrying Ruth or going for the "sweet young things" then one of the most beautiful yearning tenor solos in the G&S lexicon would never have been written.
The strength of this production revolves around Frederic and the Pirate King (and that men's chorus!).
Simon Gallaher (Frederic) who I believe mounted this production (?) is a lovely Frederic - sings like an angel, looks young and innocent - just delightful. He plays the role "straight", and it works.
I really enjoy the performance of Jon English as the Pirate King. English (a former 70s rock star) has an awesome presence, helped by being extremely tall. He plays the King as a bit of a thick, a combination of lovable and scary but definitely dumb! - and very funny (although this probably worked better on stage!).
Helen Donaldson as Mabel is lovely - and also played "straight".
Major General - not the best choice - too young (looks like the younger brother of the Fabulous Singlettes), too stupid, too comic. The ORIGINAL is funny enough.
So - to buy it or not? It depends what you are after! My kids are enjoying it (as I speak!) as an intro to G&S, and it's great for that. Those looking for a new approach will find plenty to enjoy, although you may find (like me) that the "price" of the energy and new approach is needing to forgive some stuff!!! Purists will probably find that it is too much.
I DO wish they'd recorded it ten years earlier before it went too far...
There's another production currently running in Australia, from Opera Australia. I expect this will become available in the next six months (it's already been on TV) and I look forward to getting that one. Personally I prefer it, and I have to say the singing is MUCH, MUCH better.
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