Lots of laughs as Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan Society returns

“Yes, we’re the Pirates, so beware!” Fear not, Devonshire Park theatre-goers, for the only danger in this week’s Pirates of Penzance, by Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan Society, is that you’ll break a rib or two laughing.

G&S is safe territory, and yet dangerous – all too easy to go through the motions, fall back on corny characterisations, assume that the show will produce itself. Not this production: it is fresh and funny and full of great little touches.

Familiarity is part of the fun, of course. The audience always recognise their favourite G&S numbers, and we spend much of the performance resisting the urge to join in. There might be a case – and I’m at least half-serious – for designating one of the week’s performances as a sing-along! All together now: “Tarantara tarantara..!”

We have all seen Gilbert and Sullivan updated, played in modern dress, transplanted to to South America or turned into political commentary. Director Trevor Allen, writing in the excellent programme, sees no need. “The Pirates of Penzance is superbly crafted comic opera. Gilbert himself played the G&S operas straight with no tomfoolery or extraneous business, and we remain faithful to the period, text, music and traditional presentation.”