Musical Theatre / The Pirates of Penzance, Queanbeyan Players. At The Q, Queanbeyan, until July 13. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS. 

Queanbeyan Players have assumed the mantle of keeper of the flame of the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire in the ACT.

This role was previously the unchallenged prerogative of the Canberra Philharmonic Society, but for the last 50 years the Queanbeyan Players have also entertained audiences with regular presentations from this hardy genre. 

The Queanbeyan Players were established in 1965, which is also the founding year of the Canberra Theatre Centre. Both organisations are marking their 60th anniversaries.

The Queanbeyan Players are celebrating theirs with this exuberant production of The Pirates of Penzance, the first G&S presented by the company in 1975, in a very traditional production directed by Ian Gammage with a cast headed by Fran Bosly, Peter Woods, Ross Hosking, John Johnson, Roger Coombs and Doug Stephenson.

For this celebratory production, director Alison Newhouse has chosen the famous Essgee version created by Simon Gallaher in 1994 for himself and Jon English, with new orchestrations by Kevin Hocking. 

The tone is set for the evening with a charming reference to previous productions when characters from various G&S operettas emerge from a giant treasure chest. The curtains open to reveal an expansive nautical setting occupied by Jen Hinton’s orchestra soon joined by the Pirate King (Adam Best) and his inclusive band of merry men and women for a hearty Pour, Oh Pour the Pirate Sherry. 

The pirates are gathered to commemorate the 21st birthday of one of their members, Frederic (Lachlan Elderton). Upon Frederic’s disclosure that he is an orphan, the other pirates similarly admit to being orphans themselves, which initiates a series of comedic complications.

On the assumption that you would surely have seen a production of Pirates before, there is no need to explain the complicated machinations here. Perhaps suffice to say that the large, talented cast tackle the endless comedic possibilities with unbridled enthusiasm.

Adam Best gives the late Jon English a run for his money with a wildly athletic performance as the Pirate King. David “Dogbox” Cannell once again displays his mastery of the G&S patter roles with a dazzling performance of vocal wizardry and comedic timing as the pompous Major General. 

Lachlan Elderton charms as the sweet-voiced orphan, Frederic, who suffers the disadvantage of being born in a leap-year. Louise Gaspari is perfectly cast as the good-hearted nursemaid, Ruth, who connives for a deeper relationship with Frederic.

Demi Smith delivers an impressive performance as Mabel, showcasing her stratospheric soprano vocal range. However, frequent distracting interaction with other characters rather diminishes the overall impact of her role alongside Lachlan Elderton as the romantic leads.

Wally Allington (Samuel), Emma White (Edith), Tina Robinson (Kate), Lillee Keating (Isobel), and Joe Moores (Police Sergeant) each deliver noteworthy performances within the large and enthusiastic cast.

However, this enthusiasm at times resulted in important moments being undermined by members of the background cast – occasionally including principals – engaging in attention-seeking actions that drew focus away from others during their featured performances.

The distraction affected the presentation of Jodi Hammond’s choreography, which was otherwise skillful and well-executed. Some cast members’ unco-ordinated steps, whether intentional or due to a lack of preparation, impacted the performance, spoiling the overall effect. 

Helen McIntyre’s costumes are exemplary, complemented by Zac Harvey’s lighting design and Telia Jansen’s sound work.

Jenna Hinton and her accomplished orchestra delivered an outstanding rendition of Kevin Hocking’s engaging musical arrangements. An additional highlight was the revelation of her previously unsuspected skills as a talented comedienne. 

Whether you are familiar with G&S or have never attended a performance of The Pirates of Penzance, Queanbeyan Players’ celebratory production offers an unmissable opportunity to discover why this show continues to entertain and delight almost 150 years since its creation.