English National Opera's HMS Pinafore brings back to life Gilbert and Sullivan's classic comedy, with an added dose of modern zaniness. The show takes aim at the upper echelons of society with clever put-downs, as Sir Joseph Porter navigates a shipboard hierarchy that would make even the most seasoned politician blush.
Under Cal McCrystal's direction, this 2021 production is a loving tribute to the irreverent world of Victorian music halls. With added material from McCrystal and Toby Davies, it also captures the wacky spirit of 1970s British comedy and Carry On films. A prologue sets the tone for the mayhem to come, featuring a comedic switcheroo involving Michael Portillo and Mel Giedroyc.
The show's colorful characters leap off the stage in full force, thanks in part to the boundless energy of Giedroyc as Aunt Melanie - she plays the role of Buttercup with equal parts wit and enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Neal Davies delivers a wickedly satirical portrayal of the self-absorbed Sir Joseph Porter, complete with over-the-top singing and comedic flair.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with standout performances from Rhonda Browne's gruff but lovable matronal figure, Buttercup, and Thomas Atkins' hapless, muscle-bound sailor, Ralph. But it's Giedroyc who steals the show - and not just because she plays two roles (including a fetching mermaid in the company hornpipe).
Matthew Kofi Waldren's clever arrangements and Lizzi Gee's whip-smart choreography bring out the best in the ENO chorus, who rise to the challenge with aplomb. When all these elements come together, HMS Pinafore is pure pandemonium - but in the best possible way.
The show may not be perfect, but its sheer exuberance and joy make it impossible to resist. With a top-notch cast and production team, this gloriously daffy Pinafore will have you cheering for more, long after the curtain falls on this riotous romp through the ship's poop deck.
Under Cal McCrystal's direction, this 2021 production is a loving tribute to the irreverent world of Victorian music halls. With added material from McCrystal and Toby Davies, it also captures the wacky spirit of 1970s British comedy and Carry On films. A prologue sets the tone for the mayhem to come, featuring a comedic switcheroo involving Michael Portillo and Mel Giedroyc.
The show's colorful characters leap off the stage in full force, thanks in part to the boundless energy of Giedroyc as Aunt Melanie - she plays the role of Buttercup with equal parts wit and enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Neal Davies delivers a wickedly satirical portrayal of the self-absorbed Sir Joseph Porter, complete with over-the-top singing and comedic flair.
The cast is uniformly excellent, with standout performances from Rhonda Browne's gruff but lovable matronal figure, Buttercup, and Thomas Atkins' hapless, muscle-bound sailor, Ralph. But it's Giedroyc who steals the show - and not just because she plays two roles (including a fetching mermaid in the company hornpipe).
Matthew Kofi Waldren's clever arrangements and Lizzi Gee's whip-smart choreography bring out the best in the ENO chorus, who rise to the challenge with aplomb. When all these elements come together, HMS Pinafore is pure pandemonium - but in the best possible way.
The show may not be perfect, but its sheer exuberance and joy make it impossible to resist. With a top-notch cast and production team, this gloriously daffy Pinafore will have you cheering for more, long after the curtain falls on this riotous romp through the ship's poop deck.
And Giedroyc as Aunt Melanie/Buttercup is just genius - she's got this energy that's infectious! 
I also love how the cast is all so talented and brings their A-game... especially Neal Davies as Sir Joseph Porter, he's like the ultimate snob-singer 
. And can we talk about Matthew Kofi Waldren's arrangements tho? 
they're like magic or something! 
The cast looks amazing, especially Mel Giedroyc - she's hilarious! I love how they're putting a modern twist on the classic Gilbert & Sullivan show... it sounds like so much fun! 
And can we talk about Matthew Kofi Waldren's arrangements? Genius! 
I'm definitely going to check this out when it comes to London.
Lizzi Gee really knows her stuff. I was giggling from start to finish, even my partner who's not usually a musical fan was laughing along with me 
I just saw this HMS Pinafore show at English National Opera and it was SO much fun!!! 
But seriously, this show is a masterclass in entertainment - the music, dance, acting... everything comes together to create pure pandemonium in the best possible way! 
I'm already counting down the days until they bring it back again 
as Aunt Melanie/Buttercup - her energy and wit are infectious! The cast was all top-notch, but she really steals the show (and not just because she plays two roles). The music and choreo were all so cleverly done, it's no wonder the whole company brought their A-game. Not perfect, maybe, but who cares when you're having this much fun? 
It's like a big ol' party on stage!
. The cast is amazing, especially Mel Giedroyc as Aunt Melanie - she's absolutely killing it in that role 
. It's like they're saying, 'hey, we know this show is old, but we're gonna make it fresh and fun again' - and you know what? It works! 
! And Neal Davies' over-the-top Sir Joseph Porter is giving me LIFE 
! The cast, choreography, and arrangements all come together in perfect pandemonium - I was fully immersed in the ship's poop deck chaos from start to finish 
. Even if it wasn't 100% flawless, its sheer energy and joy made me want to join in on the fun 
I'm not sure if this modern take on HMS Pinafore is a good thing... like, is it really necessary to add more material and change some things from the original? 
I'd love to see more info on that before I go in.
! Cal McCrystal's direction is absolutely on point, bringing back that wicked spirit of Victorian music halls and 1970s British comedy. Toby Davies' added material takes it to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL 
! Neal Davies' satirical portrayal of Sir Joseph Porter had me DYING 
! And that ENO chorus? UNBELIEVABLE 
! Can't wait to see this show again ASAP 
#HMSPinafore #ENO #GilbertAndSullivan #ComedyGold #TheatreMagic
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. They're trying to sell us a fish out of water story... or is it? Think about it, HMS Pinafore is basically a commentary on social class and power struggles - sounds an awful lot like some real-life agendas to me 