Pinafore Swing

The Watermill's 1940s swing version of HMS Pinafore is an absolute delight.

John Doyle and Sarah Travis have produced a real fusion musical which contains strong echoes of the original but is definitely rooted in the great swing bands, tunes and moveis of the 1940s. The eight person cast are superb, swapping instruments frequently and playing, singing and acting with enormous skill. The staging, a swing bandstand on a troop ship in 1944, gives us an opportunity to meet the band and follow them through the romances and revelations that go to make up the story. Choreographed to give us continuously changing images the show clips along at a terrific pace and the music will delight enthusiasts for both the original and the swing era. This is a beautifully constructed and enacted show which even manages to inject moments of genuine pathos amidst the comedy.

G&S would be delighted with this fresh, modern and lively version of their classic and I could not have wished for a more dedicated, delightful and genuinely skillful cast. Well done the Watermill, get to see this if you can.