Toronto Operetta Theatre opened a run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance at the Jane Mallett Theatre last night.I think it’s got everything one could expect from a modest budget G&S production and maybe a bit more.  Bill Silva-Marin’s production is energetic with a lot of stomping, marching and mincing going on which makes the small stage (even smaller than usual as the band is on stage) look lively and busy.  The chorus is good and sings idiomatically.  The principals also appear to understand the genre and there’s some good acting and good, at times excellent, singing.

Sebastien Belcourt, as the Pirate King, is tall and athletic and has a decided swagger.  Coupked with a very decent baritone voice he makes a most attractive bandit and he’s well supported by his sidekick sung by Taylor Gibbs.  The wards are good too.  Lori Mak, Máiri Demings and Stephanie Kim are cute, tuneful and good movers; which is rather the point.

Karen Bojti as Ruth and Greg Finney as Major General Stanley are just cut out to play Gilbert and Sullivan.  They get it and they are very funny as well as vocally very solid.  Brian Dearden is a properly lugubrious Police Sergeant.

Which leaves the romantic couple.  They are excellent.  Alexander Cappellazzo has a very suitable tenor for operetta.  It’s supple and has proper high notes and he can act with just the right degree of archness.  But it’s Ana Isabella Castro, as Mabel, who steals the show.  She’s funny, cute and has a lovely bright soubrette soprano with really impressive coloratura.  Not many Mabel’s would be able to use the cadenza from Lucia’s mad scene in “Poor Wandering One!”.

Jenn Tung conducts a nine piece band to one side of the stage.  It works pretty well.  The balance is fine and there’s enough colour and volume for the small pace.  Pacing is good and the singers are well supported.

This Pirates is proper G&S. It’s a pleasantly silly way to spend an undemanding evening and there are some young voices on display that you will likely see go on to bigger things.

Toronto Operetta Theatre’s production of The Pirates of Penzance can be seen again tonight at 8pm and at 3pm on Sunday.

Photo credits: Gary Beechey