The Pirates Of Penzance
28th April - 3rd May 2003
Photographs by John Tustin
Production Officials
Director Nora Howcroft
Musical Director Marjorie Hough
Cast
Pirate King Steve Benson
Frederic David Griffiths
Mabel Adrienne Wormald
Ruth Irene Lunt
Samuel Don Fairclough
Major-General Bill Steel
Sergeant of Police David Witt
Edith Vicki Wilson
Kate Jane Bickerstaffe
Isabel Helen Popplewell
Pirates
Michael Bailey, Norman Bowers, Ross Dunning, Mike Fallon, John Farnworth, Ron Finney, Robin Foster, David Jones, Eddie Williams
Daughters
Sarah Booth, Carole Brooks, Alison Buckthorpe, Ann Coleman, Lisa Oldbury, Michelle Sale
Police
Caroline Burke, Lucy Finney, Hazel Gray, Barbara Martin, Yvonne Neary, Glenys Poole, Ruth Prescott, Maria Sharrocks, Janet Witt
  • The Pirate King, Frederic and Ruth The Pirate King, Frederic and Ruth
  • Frederic meets Mabel and the daughters Frederic meets Mabel and the daughters
  • Pirate King and Samuel Pirate King and Samuel
  • Mabel Mabel
  • Frederic and Pirates Frederic and Pirates
  • Samuel Samuel
  • Ruth "When Frederic Was A Little Lad" Ruth "When Frederic Was A Little Lad"
  • Frederic and the Daughters "Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast" Frederic and the Daughters "Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast"
  • Frederic and The Pirate King Frederic and The Pirate King
  • Frederic and Mabel Frederic and Mabel
  • Major-General Stanley Major-General Stanley
  • "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General" "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General"
  • "I'm Telling A Terrible Story" "I'm Telling A Terrible Story"
  • "Oh, Dry The Glistening Tear" "Oh, Dry The Glistening Tear"
  • "Now, For The Pirates' Lair" "Now, For The Pirates' Lair"
  • The Sergeant of Police and Policemen The Sergeant of Police and Policemen
  • "When The Foeman Bares His Steel" "When The Foeman Bares His Steel"
  • "With Cat-Like Tread" "With Cat-Like Tread"

NODA North West News Review
A bright and lively production by Nora Howcroft who came up with several new twists such as the Tardis styled police box, for the policemen (women) to disappear into, along with the Major Generals hot dog stand aptly named 'Stanelli's'.

Scenery was to a very high standard with a glitzy pirate boat, which really should have 'sailed with the tide' as the daughters approached, as well as an impressive ruined chapel.

Steve Benson cut a fine figure as the Pirate King making the most of all aspects of the part whilst David Griffiths, as the gullible Frederick, might have made a little more of 'Stop ladies pray' but nontheless made a good foil for the Pirate King. David Witt was in good form in the cameo role of the Sergeant of Police whilst Bill Steel gave a fine all round performance as the Major General.

Although slightly under par in this vocally demanding role Adrienne Wormald has an excellent stage presence and was a delight to watch as Mabel whilst lrene Lunt was quite good as Ruth without being totally in command of the character.

The daughters, led by Vicki Wilson, Jane Bickerstaffe and Helen Popplewell, were a lively, boisterous bunch which added a further dimension to the production. There was also a fine body of policewomen to enhance the proceedings and whilst vocally the company was generally up to the mark the chorus/ orchestra did lose contact on occasions. A thoroughly entertaining evening which certainly went with a swing.

Glyn Neary
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