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 Martins
Bank Operatic Society - The Pirates of Penzance
Staged:
20 to 24 March 1962 at the Crane Theatre Liverpool
One of the advantages of light
opera, is that it usually offers memorable songs, which become firm
favourites both with performers and their audiences. It is no surprise,
therefore, that Martins Bank Operatic Society, and the Society of the Arts
Music Section before it, likes to occasionally stage a production for second
time. The Pirates of Penzance, known world over for the “Modern Major
General” song is chosen in 1962, having previously been performed by the
Music Section in 1956. Our picture
(left) might look a little strange, with characters sitting around drinking
tea, but this photograph offers a peek behind the scenes, as the actors relax
for a few moments in the Green Room, between acts.
You can see the full photograph
at the bottom of this page. The
audience was treated to an extra performance too – the orchestra played a
special arrangement of “Pineapple Poll”, which although written asa ballet by
Gilbert and Sullivan, is often played in a concert setting. Martins Bank Magazine is also pleased to
note that on this occasion, a member of the Bank’s Staff, Miss C E Taggart,
was playing violin with the orchestra…
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 The Society last
performed ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ in 1956 and it is interesting to
compare the two productions. Sonic of the principals who sang then once
again took up their old roles Bill Morris. Mary Nelson. Pamela Rooke,
Phyllis Ritchie and Frank Green, and in 1956 we commented that from a
musical point of view the production achieved the highest standard of
precision and timing yet seen in one of our shows. If we hadn’t already said this in 1956,
we would be saying it now. The show took place at Crane Theatre for five
nights. March 20th to 24th, and the performance of ‘The Pirates' was
preceded by ‘Pineapple Poll’, that increasingly popular orchestral suite
arranged by Charles Mackerras.
 Terence Egan as Major General Stanley,
makes his entrance
The orchestra was
outstandingly good and was very well directed by Donald H. Gilroy who, in
1956, took the part of Major General Stanley It is of interest to note that
on this occasion the orchestra included a member of our own staff. Miss C. E. Taggart, one of the four
violins. The Major General was played this time by Terence Egan, to whom
the Society was much indebted for coming to the rescue with this principal
part which they were unable to cast from among their own members. Although
he had not previously played the part, he portrayed it with a dignity and a
confidence which were wholly admirable. His singing of the song ‘Softly
sighing to the river’ was one of the best things in the show Bill Morris
could hardly be bettered in the ‘Pirate King’ role. His magnificent bass
voice, his complete mastery of the ‘heavy villain’ type of part, and his
completely uninhibited approach and obvious enjoyment of the role combined
to result in an outstanding performance.
Frank Green as the Sergeant of Police,
does battle with the Pirate King…
Barrie Stevenson
played the part of the Pirate King’s Lieutenant. His improbable red beard,
in contrast to the coal-black moustache of the Pirate King, helped him to
implant the idea in the minds of the audience that he was just as big a
villain as his chief, and this he most successfully did. Jack Holroyd
portrayed Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice. His fine tenor voice was, as
usual, one of the delights of the show Frank Green played his old part of
the Sergeant of Police. Time showed that he has lost none of his power to
extract the maximum number of laughs from the lines and his zest
communicated itself quite noticeably to the men under his command. Mary Nelson sang her old part
of Mabel and her rendering of the famous and beautiful songs ‘Poor
wandering one’ and ‘Ah, leave me not alone’, was as appealing as ever,
while her voice seems to improve each year Pamela Rooke sang the part of
Edith this time, a part which gave more scope for her fine voice than did
her 1956 part of Kate.
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Left to right Pamela Rooke, Joan M Venn
and Valerie A Barrett - daughters of Major General Stanley…
Joan M. Venn and
Valerie A. Barrett took the parts of the other daughters of Major General
Stanley and portrayed them delightfully Phyllis M. Ritchie played her old
role of Ruth, the Pirate Maid offal Work. Phyllis is a dedicated person so
far as Gilbert and Sullivan arc concerned. She is a lifelong lover of the
operas and she sings and plays these parts with sincerity and enthusiasm.
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Barrie Stevenson Bill Morris Phyllis
Ritchie
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Relaxation in the Green Room between Acts
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The chorus work
was good throughout and both Donald Gilroy as Musical Director and May
Collins as Producer have every reason to feel very satisfied with the
result of their efforts. Nor must we forget to make acknowledgment of the
immense amount of backstage work which is performed in the course of
presenting one of these operas. The names of some of the people responsible
were printed on the programme, but many others were concerned, and to each
and everyone we are most grateful.
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