UK: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN ROMANTIC COMEDY 'HMS PINAFORE' BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY THE CLASSIC D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Record ID: 386724

  • Title: UK: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN ROMANTIC COMEDY 'HMS PINAFORE' BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE BY THE CLASSIC D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY
  • Date: 27th July 1999
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAST MEMBER SIMON WILDING SAYING: "My character is Dick Dead-Eye and we're playing him as a good Northern lad. He's the baddy of the piece basically. He tells tales to the Captain about Ralph Rackshaw, who is the hero of the piece, and causes him to be sent to prison basically, as they try to elope, he and Josephine, who's the Captain's daughter. That
  • Embargoed: 11th August 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA45KFNO5JJ3R5Q4BV0E6YSBCKF
  • Story Text: The music of Gilbert and Sullivan is brought back to
    the stage in the classic D'Oyly Carte Opera Company's
    performance of 'HMS Pinafore' - a timeless romantic comedy
    that is as much in demand now as it was when it was first
    performed in 1878.

    It's bright, it's funny and it's sometimes very
    naughty - welcome to the world of opera.

    Legendary opera company D'Oyly Carte is putting on a
    revamped performance of its first opera - 'HMS Pinafore' - an
    English operetta that tells the story of forbidden love
    between the classes.Originally brought to the stage in 1878,
    this show is set on a ship and focuses on the relationship
    between the Captain's daughter and a lowly sailor.

    Featuring the music of Gilbert and Sullivan, 'HMS
    Pinafore' is a treat for opera enthusiasts everywhere and is
    also a perfect introduction for first-timers.

    The cast is young, fresh and very talented.They light
    up the stage with energetic dance routines, rousing songs and
    rib-tickling wisecracks.

    Director Martin Duncan believes that this show has it
    all - "It's fresh, it's bright, it's colourful, most certainly
    the way we've done it, especially with this fantastically
    energetic cast we have.I've been blessed with them.They're
    really top-notch."
    Among the main characters is the delightful Buttercup -
    played by Frances McCafferty - who delivers tobacco and sweets
    to the ship's crew.Frances believes that the reason for 'HMS
    Pinafore' being such a timeless piece is due to the magic of
    Gilbert and Sullivan - "Gilbert's words are as pertinent
    today, the satire on human nature and characteristics, are as
    pertinent today as they were a hundred years ago, because
    human nature doesn't change that quickly.So all his
    observations of the class system, for example in Britain,
    still apply pretty much today although we try to pretend that
    there isn't a class system, but there is really, you know."
    The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was originally a family
    -run operation.Formed by Richard D'Oyly Carte in 1876,
    management of the Company was passed down from generation to
    generation until 1982 - having run for an impressive 117
    years.Three years later it was resurrected thanks to a legacy
    of one million pounds sterling from Bridget D'Oyly Carte and
    has been playing to delighted audiences ever since.
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