Mel Giedroyc, John Savournin, Neal Davies, Matthew Kofi Waldren, Thomas Atkins, Henna Mun
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor,
Comic opera in two acts, music by Arthur Sullivan, libretto by W. S. Gilbert.
The Mikado was the first opera I ever saw performed live, this was a school production where the thrill was as much seeing our teachers let their hair down as the music or the script. Possibly that’s as much the authentic tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoy operas as a polished London production. Whether that first experience encouraged or quelled my interest in opera is impossible to say but tonight’s English National Opera revival of HMS Pinafore at the London Coliseum was top-notch in terms of music, staging and costumes. The ENO chorus were exceptional with their ensemble and choreography, including an acrobatics specialist.
What’s more contentious is the updating of the script, which jars my ear and seemed heavy-handed, missing the light touch of brilliant satire. Of course there were many many topical references in WS Gilbert’s original and we wouldn’t understand most of them but the deep, subversive and insidious satire of the original depends in the cumulative effect which seems diluted by the topical updates chosen.
Nonetheless, the set pieces (I am the ruler of the Queen’s Navy etc) are fantastic to see staged, bringing, springing into life the classic D’Oly Carte recordings.
The jingoistic flag-waving Act 2 (pastiche of Die Meistersinger?) was subverted further with modern references and at last there were some topical ad-libs, though only from Mel Giedroyc, who was having fun bringing disruption to the action throughout.
Overall a jolly night at ENO, fine orchestra and great principal singers and company. I’m not convinced by the mixture of original WS Gilbert script and topical updates but it gave us a jolly entertainment and maybe the original subversive satire would not play well in 2026, even as a period piece. But tantalising to imagine how HMS Pinafore would turn out in a topical production rescripted by Private Eye.
HMS Pinafore - W.S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan (1878)
Sir Joseph - Neal Davies
Captain Corcoran - John Savournin
Cabin Boy - Mel Giedroyc
Ralph Rackstraw - Thomas Atkins
Dick Deadeye - Trevor Eliot Bowes
Boatswain - Marcus Farnsworth
Carpenter - Alaric Green
Josephine - Henna Mun
Bethan Langford - Hebe
Buttercup - Rhonda Browne
Aunt Melanie - Mel Giedroyc
Spencer Darlaston-Jones - Actor and acrobat
Chorus and orchestra of English National Opera.
Conductor - Matthew Kofi Waldren
Director - Cal McCrystal