Opera della Luna’s lauded production of HMS Pinafore drops anchor at the Theatre Royal Bath from Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27 January at the start of the company’s 30th Anniversary year.
Packed with toe-tapping tunes including For He Is An Englishman, I’m Called Little Buttercup and I’m the Monarch of the Sea, the wit and verve of HMS Pinafore is the perfect showcase for the talents of Opera della Luna, one of the UK’s leading exponents of operetta and comic music-theatre.
Set in Portsmouth Harbour aboard the HMS Pinafore, Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious tale of love, double standards and mistaken identity unravels when Captain Corcoran’s daughter secretly falls in love with a common sailor, Ralph Rackstraw. Pledged by her father to marry the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Joseph Porter, Josephine finds herself hopelessly torn between love and duty. Meanwhile, in a remarkable twist of fate, Little Buttercup boards the ship to sell her wares to the good-natured crew, guarding a long-held secret that could change everything.
A cast of eight perform all the roles, accompanied by a small but perfectly formed chamber musical ensemble. Opera della Luna has never been daunted by a little cross-dressing, and a few delicately-faced sailors can be seen in the crew, whilst Sir Joseph Porter’s elderly aunt has some surprisingly fearsome features.
Opera della Luna’s crew of exceedingly fine singers are Paul Featherstone as Sir Joseph Porter, Matthew Siveter as Captain Corcoran, Martin George as Bill Bobstay, John Lofthouse as Dick Deadeye and Sir Joseph’s Aunt, Lawrence Olsworth-Peter as Ralph Rackstraw, Louise Crane as Little Buttercup and Sir Joseph’s Sister, Georgina Stalbow as Josephine and Lynsey Docherty as Cousin Hebe.
HMS Pinafore was W.S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan’s first big success, making them internationally famous. It is also one of Opera della Luna’s most successful productions and has been seen all over the world, courtesy of the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship. It also played two sell-out seasons in London’s Covent Garden Festival and has toured nationally from Aberdeen to Truro.
During the last three decades Opera della Luna has staged many comic operas, including the British Premieres of The Queen’s Lace Handkerchief by Johann Strauss and Three Decembers by Jake Heggie. Last year the company’s production of Sweeney Todd – the original melodrama was voted Best Show by The Times. The company regularly performs at Buxton, Salisbury and Iford Festivals, and at Wilton’s Music Hall in London. Their work is regularly praised by national critics – The Stage said they are “fast approaching national treasure status”.
HMS Pinafore is directed by the company’s artistic director, Jeff Clarke; choreographed by Jenny Arnold, whose credits include the West End hits Operation Mincemeat and Jerry Springer - The Opera, and designed by Graham Wynne from TV’s Changing Rooms. The
beautiful period costumes are all based on paintings by the Edwardian artist James Tissot, and the set, inspired by HMS Victory, is cleverly constructed by the “sailors” at the beginning of the show.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore received its premiere at the Opera Comique in London in May 1878. Opera della Luna first staged the show in July 2001 at the Corn Exchange in Newbury. It has remained in the company’s repertory ever since, amassing nearly 500 performances over the past twenty-three years.
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