THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
US, 1983, 107 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt, Angela Lansbury, George Rose, Tony Azito, Rex Smith.
Directed by Wilford Leach.
The Pirates of Penzance is the film version (Panavision and colour) of the New York Shakespeare Group's performance of The Pirates in Central Park on its American Centenary.
Production is by the famed Joseph Papp and screenplay and direction are by Wilford Leach. The American cast has been retained with the addition of Angela Lansbury as Ruth.
Kevin Cline (who was to make his name on screens with his performance as Nathan in Sophie's Choice) is an Errol Flynn look-alike as the vigorous Pirate King. Popular singer Linda Ronstadt shows she has fine and attractive voice as Mabel. Popular singer Rex Smith gives a rock-opera tone to his singing of the part of Frederick. George Rose is the Major General and Angela Lansbury is herself as Ruth. The music has been adapted and given a more contemporary orchestration and an echo of the styles of the rock operas so popular in the '70s.
The film is stylised: it takes place in Penzance where a performance of H.M.S. Pinafore is going on (with a mix-up in the theatre during a performance at the end when the pirates invade). The sets are attractively stylised and photographed beautifully by Douglas Slocomb. Traditional costumes and demeanour are retained e.g. for the pirates, the girls, the Major General and the police. The film takes a spoofing tone to the Gilbert and Sullivan material - e.g. Frederick's trying to get a word in during Mabel's singing of 'Poor Wandering One'. There is also an allusion to the Elvis Presley phenomenon as Frederick sings to the tears of the Major General's daughters. A patter trio from Rudi gore is also inserted in the second act. Purists of Gilbert and Sullivan delight may take exception to some of the treatment but it seem to be in the spirit of the original. As a staged version of the musical, it is entertaining for devotees and an example of how the material can be adapted for contemporary audiences. However, for non-devotees, the music is the thing and is pleasant in listening without the disadvantage of the rather inane plot.
(Ken Anakin's The Pirate Movie was roundly condemned on its appearance just before this feature. With Kristy MacNichol? and Christopher Atkins and an Australian cast (filmed in Australia), the film has many of the Pirates of Penzance songs with its basic plot put in a contemporary dream and with some contemporary songs and choreography. However, in detail some of its aspects bear comparison well with this film.)
