Following the copyright problems that affected the performances of HMS Pinafore, the first performance of this successor to that famous opening salvo of the G&S CV was given in my Devon UK coastal town of Paignton where a plaque was placed to mark the site. How its creators would marvel if they knew their work was still being performed with such affection and commitment thousands of miles away a century after their deaths.

Excellent production. Great tempo. Great movement. Great improvisation. Lots of humour. A class above anything else online.

I was there! It was a hoot!

This is the first time I have seen this in it's entirety since 1958 when my father took me to see it performed by the Police Choir at the Alhambra in Bradford. The music has been in my mind forever since. I thought this was a superb performance and thanks for posting it.

Chelsea Rose as Mabel is superb. She sails through the part making it sound effortless. The Eflat at the end of Mabel's aria was a thing of beauty Breathtaking

This was a very fine performance, having been involved in G & S both as musician and conductor for near 50 years, I know just how tough it is to pull off this classic. Given the limited stage size there was not a lot of room for movement. Sure there were times when things got just a bit out of sync., but hey that happens in the some of the top productions too and remember this is a live performance. Bravo particularly to Ruth and Mabel, brilliantly cast and superb diction and clarity of sound.

I have enjoyed this production many times, as a fellow Kansan (Lawrence), thanks for keeping GnS alive in the heartland!

I just got Mabel and I'm looking through her stuff. This is gonna be fun!

Every production is enslaved to the excellence of previous Gilbert and Sullivan productions--Joseph Papp in Central Park with Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt. And every production has to make it their own, keeping the canonical while creating anew the canon. The Wichita Grand Opera succeeded. Sadly, filming of the production was less than technically adequate and detracted from a fine performance But still a joy to watch.

This reminds me of my University days up in Newcastle Upon Tyne where I often went to the Theatre to see these musicals, Excellent . Congratulations.

What a super orchestra! The overture is worth an upload on its own!

I enjoyed this very much, the upload was a bit shakey in places, but on the whole yes it was a very good performance.

This is an excellent production. I have seen and taken part in several productions of this opera (backstage) and if the filming had been better arranged it would be the best I've yet seen. The singing is very clear and the acting all that one might require.

How nice to hear a real Cornet sound!

I just got cast as Edith- so excited to do the harmonizing with Mabel at the end!

Lovely stuff.

I know this is old but i cant help but hope the cast is as good or better and cant wait to visit!

Another production I was in at school.

jUST GOING THROUGH THIS VIDEO OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS SOOOOOO INSPIRING TO MUSIC LOVERS LIKE ME.lOVE IT..

awesome

There is not a lot of movement in some of the pieces, especially "poor wandering one". I am part of the orchestra in a New Zealand community performance and there is a lot of moving around on stage and it is eye catching

SPOILER ALERT: I know Ruth traditionally pairs off with the Police Sargeant but I always felt it would have made a better ending for her to pair with the Major-General. Indeed, some productions I've seen have ended it that way.

Chelsea Rose is fabulous...ideal!

Played and performed with a gusto that is welcome for the material and its far-fetched premise.

Pirate King time stamps @9:21 @13:46 -dialogue @18:24 -For, better far @48:40 -dialogue @57:52 -Yes, yes, remember Ruth @1:16:41 -dialogue/I am afraid that you don‘t appreciate

excellent production nice to hear everybody singing and playing on-key including all of the "27 Bulgarian Musicians" (?!) i'm looking forward to more Gilbert & Sullivan (Patience Iolanthe Princess Ida Ruddigore Yeomen are my favorites) and some cleaner audio recording technique to match the fine performances please the ending wherein the nasty pirates magically turn into respectable noblemen is usually considered to be absurd silly and surreal. however i think Gilbert was dealing some dark truths here. peerage and royalty (and of course their equivalents in a "democratic republic" such as America) are all about power (ie great wealth) - and great wealth is seldom achieved honestly. to quote the Pirate King But many a king on a first-class throne If he wants to call his crown his own Must manage somehow to get through More dirty work than ever I do. Gilbert was definitely speaking personally through Jack Point in "Yeomen" I can teach you with a quip if I've a mind I can trick you into learning with a laugh Oh winnow all my folly folly folly and you'll find A grain or two of truth among the chaff !

Um…Was this filmed in a bathroom? Or was there a leak in the roof? I hear water running.

I could've sworn i saw this as a ballet in the grand opera house around when this was posted. Am i mistaken???

Frederick seems to sing a lot of notes flat (e.g., at 35:40--"love YOU."

Also, why does Gilbert get lesser billing? Extraordinary

A gang of pirates, a bevy of women & a Major General

WHY do director's insist the comic baritone. in this case ,the Major General always be played as a cartoon ,campy figure??? Maybe it;s me but after seeing the D'Oyly Carte so many times, I can understand why people get turned off by G & S when seeing something like this... Yes I am a purist when it comes to G & S....

My school is doing this musical for a fall show. Im going to die of boredom.

I was mabellll

Putting the vocal talents aside which seem very mixed, from some good sopranos, to a too-campy-wimpy major general, I thought this production was poorly directed. Purists may dislike the Joseph Papp version and film, but at least it had brio and some fine acting !

I felt Ruth was off key some times...

1:29:00

Y, the last man

The Pirate King and Mabel are standouts, the police posse less so, in this production that is not so grand as healthy. The good musical quality is let down by a poor recording setup (overloads and background irritating hum) and the "gaily skipping" entry of the maidens happened ponderously. The duette at 1:22:55 is sweet. Finally Her Majesty's surprise appearance guarantees a happy ending for all, even Ruth.

I thought this was a good production, with some very good voices. I agree that it was a pity that the Major General was rather overplayed. It is not the part for a comic at all. The man needed a good singing voice, too, For an American production, it is to be applauded. Just where is Wichita? Peter Feiler

Freddy's 21 here right? lol

SIT ARTHUR SULLIVAN? Was he a dog?

I can't make out any of the lyrics and barely any of the dialogue. I've no idea of the plot because the diction is so poor. Is this the best you can do? I hope not.

Which idiot wrote "By Sit Arthur Sullivan?" Sit? Sit boy? WTF?

General Stanley was horrendous.

Trying to listen to this to get a feel of how the percussion should sound like in a production...... but the percussion in this is awful, the players have no sense of timing :/

Everything in this performance feels like it was lacking in power... Maybe the recording crew caught the actors on a bad night, but I just can't feel the energy. From a technical aspect, this could have been much better. The mic overloads ruin any belted to high-pitched notes. Whenever the band kicks in, the mix is lost completely. ...also, the major general is wearing glasses. Very modern glasses. I don't know what the costume master was thinking, and why or how they let the actor get away with that.

Couldn't enjoy this, as I had to call the plumber.