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ED2012 3/5 Reviews ED2012 Theatre Reviews
Gilbert And Sullivan In Brief(s) (Ingenious Paradox / Nick Brooke Productions / Pleasance Theatre Trust)
By Nathaniel Meyers | Published on Monday 20 August 2012
This show combines comedy, theatre and opera as a charismatic foursome condense the fourteen operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan into seventy minutes, or before they bite each other’s heads off. There’s a lot going on here with frivolous props and baffling operettas, and I eventually found myself absent-mindedly enjoying the singing without paying attention to the abridged plots. The bits in between the operettas are more overtly comic, with witty asides, audience addresses and comedic fall-outs about who should play which role. The slapstick acting occasionally seems forced but heavenly singing and scintillating musical compositions redeem it. The musical performance of this show is worth seeing, but the combination with stage-play makes it hard to stick with.
Pleasance Courtyard, 2-27 Aug (not 13, 21), 4.30pm
tw rating 3/5 | [Nathaniel Meyers]
