Pirates have quite a swagger

THE National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company are back in the hills for another week of providing some of the best works of G&S.

Their annual trip’s repertoire has already included Iolanthe, and to come there’s Trial by Jury and the Sorcerer, and Ruddigore.

Midweek it was the delightful comic opera featuring those nautical vagabonds from the West Country - also known as The Slave Of Duty - and there’s even a hint the panto season is just around the corner with the arrival of a ‘constabulary cow’ with which the police aim to thwart the pirates.

Renowned for producing some of the best G&S work that can be seen anywhere the company did not disappoint and dished up all that was desired.

Director Richard Gauntlett, who is also a top notch Major-General Stanley in this production, quite clearly set out with the intention of having plenty of fun and with the cast buying into it completely it achieved that target with a considerable amount of swagger.

Following an entertaining and accomplished overture - led by conductor Andrew Nicklin - it was off to a rocky Cornish seashore where Frederic (Nicholas Sales) was celebrating his 21 birthday and the end of his pirate indentures.

No more life at sea for him - it was off to civvy street! But there’s a surprise in store as having been born in a Leap Year on February 29, his yearly age is only five!

This is where the duty comes in and all because piratical maid Ruth (Mae Heydorn) created the mix-up of getting Frederic apprenticed to a Pirate instead of a Pilot because she’s so hard of hearing.

Splendid stage routines, with some fine choreography, especially from the Major-General’s beautiful bevy of daughters whose numbers ran into double figures. Quite how he had the time to win medals is open to conjecture!

Ellen Angharad Williams, who stars as Mabel, proves she has a fine voice, with soaring top notes, and Frederic is the perfect foil.

The double chorus, Tarantara, was one of the highlights with Matthew Kellett’s Sergeant of Police spot on with similarities to the likes of Ben Turpin and Charlie Chaplin of old. Great movement and timing by his fellow officers provided additional humour.

Elsewhere Ruth, along with the Pirate King (Eddie Wade), featured in a well sung, the paradox trio (When You Had Left Our Pirates Fold), together with Frederic. And there are quite a few other high-spots such as Hush, hush, Not a Word.

Overall Gilbert and Sullivan’s work is perfectly presented, with bags of energy and it’s also hugely entertaining.

Later in the week it will be the first time the company has presented Ruddigore to local audiences - which can be seen on Saturday in the afternoon and also in the evening.