Based on the hugely successful Broadway revival in the 1980s this touring show of Pirates of Penzance has something to please most of the audience, but in trying to please everyone it does fail in certain areas.

One expects good value entertainment from a show whose leads are TV variety stalwarts Gary Wilmot and Su Pollard and they do not disappoint. Wilmot is a suitably swashbuckling Pirate King, and he works with the audience throughout to great effect. Su Pollard, as the nanny Ruth, took a while to find her feet - or more particularly, the audience took some time to see beyond her television persona and accept her performing a different role. Both dealt well with the G&S lyrics and vocally were very effective. Equally strong was David Alder as the Major General, a very model Major General one might say. The romantic leads fared less well, as both Joshua Dallas (Frederic) and Karen Evans (Mabel) sounded at the limits of their vocal range. This was not helped by the sound quality though, and the over-amplified band which drowned out the lyrics at too many stages throughout the evening.

The production was some what mixed in style, and the combination of D'Oyly Carte, Broadway and - unfortunately - pantomime sat a little uneasily. An attempt to introduce audience participation served only to slow down proceedings, and the panto style in which much of the dialogue was projected seemed out of place. However, the big production numbers were excellent, especially 'With Cat-Like Tread' and 'A Policeman's Lot', and the choreography, under Gillian Gregory, was top notch.

Overall this is a good night out at the theatre. Whether it is a great Gilbert and Sullivan show is open to debate but it certainly entertains from beginning to end and maintains a huge feel-good factor throughout. So, splice the mainbrace, swash your buckles and get along to the Apollo this week.

David Wootten, 25.03.02