A Little Bit of The Pirates of Penzance
This is the second time I have had the pleasure of enjoying Scottish Opera’s pop-up offerings. Performed on a touring truck with a five strong cast of two musicians, two singers and a storyteller, the talented cast have toured, braving the elements, throughout the summer months bringing live performance to communities outside of the city theatres.
Here they immerse audiences in the dramatic and musical highlights of Gilbert and Sullivan in just thirty minutes. Packed with silly stories, tongue twisting lyrics and memorable characters this is perfect for young and old. Taking a three-year-old to anything which involves sitting still for longer than ten minutes is a challenge, but this pint-sized performance worked its magic. Also, it happened to be about Pirates which helps. Starting with the audience invited to swing their arms with a loud OOH ARRG!
Seated in the sunshine in the lovely gardens of Strathpeffer’s Victorian Spa Pavilion, the storyteller enthusiastically invited the audience to join in whenever they liked. This worked well as the show involves some of G and S most well-known songs.
The charming soprano (no programme so unfortunately no name) sang ‘Poor Wandering One’ delightfully. Memories of the school choir flooded back. The tall handsome baritone tackled the Major General’s song with brio. Changing hats for ‘When a felon’s not engaged in his employment’, we all joined in with the verse singing ‘a policeman’s lot is not a happy one’. Great voice and great fun.
The instrumentalists (Cello and Guitar) duly backed them gliding effortlessly from pathos to cheerleading. The odd smile would have been nice, but perhaps touring fatigue had set in. They only have Elgin and Glamis and then they can go home.
The story unfolds with a series of display boards and backdrop using the artwork by Otto von Beach (Victorian illustrator extraordinaire, though that’s not really his name). See the Illustrator’s Lounge. Humorously reflecting the absurdities of the period.
The shows are all performed within Covid 19 rules, with individual chairs laid out in booked groups of up to five spaced apart. Most impressive, but sadly not all were taken. To top it all, there are photo opportunities with the cast afterwards before they go off to prepare for the late afternoon performance.
Well done Scottish Opera for bringing charming light entertainment when we need it most!
