The Pirates of Penzance (1983): Starring Kevin Kline, Rex Smith, Linda Ronstadt, Angela Lansbury, George Rose, Tony Azito, David Hatton, Louise Gold, Teresa Coldling, G.B. Zoot Money, Tilly Vosburgh, Peppi Borza, Preston Lockwood, Tim Bentinck, Mohamed Aazzi, Anthony Arundell, John Asquith, John Bett, Lennie Byrne, Frankie Cull, Nicolas Chagrin, Jo Cameron Brown, Ross Davison, Mike Grady, Stephen Hanan, Carole Forbes....Director Wilford Leach.
From 1983, this televised version of Gilbert and Sullivan's beloved operetta "The Pirates of Penzance" was filmed in a studio in England and starred several well-known celebrities including Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt and Angela Lansbury. This is one of the better TV productions of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, second only to the televised operettas by the D'Oyle Carte Opera Company in the late 60's and 70's. Kevin Kline as the Pirate King is a classic example of an actor who could take on everything from dramatic movie roles to the silly role he plays here. He is genuinely having fun with the part of the vainglorious and lusty Pirate King, making this a highly enjoyable comedy rather than just a stuff, boring Victorian version of a comedy and furthermore, we are treated to his singing voice (surprise, surprise). His high baritone voice is a combination of opera and Broadway, much like the rest of his co-stars. Angela Lansbury as Ruth, the Pirate nurse, is simply wonderful. With her training in Broadway, British theatre and film, she is able to portray Ruth with lots of humor and nuance and makes her more lovable than other interpretors, as if the role was tailor-made for her, despite the fact the role was written for a deeper voice. Linda Ronstadt, of all people, plays the beautiful Edwardian heroine Mabel, daughter of the Major General Stanley (George Rose). Ronstadt's bravura vocal talents are so versatile that one would have mistaken her for an operatically trained soprano or Broadway singer. The role of Mabel calls for high coloratura and lyric melodiousness, all which Miss Ronstadt possessed. She is a wonderful actress and even if the role of Mabel is flat, she is still amazing. Good looking and slim Rex Smith sings the tenor role of Frederic, the pirate who captures Mabel's heart. He is clearly influenced by Broadway, right down to his mannerisms, but it works well, especially in making him a sort of matinée idol. Even if the production is not impressive (due to this being filmed in a studio, we get painted backdrops, plastic plants and flowers and phony facades of buildings) the cinematography by Douglas Slocombe is unusually beautiful, looking like a sort of romantic novel about pirates and beautiful Edwardian girls come to life. The story is quite simple, despite the many songs which seem silly and pointless. A group of pirates wish to marry the daughters of Major General Stanley. After many misunderstanding are cleared up, they do marry them. This is a delightful treat for fans of Gilbert and Sullivan, but it would not have been an attention grabber if not for the participation of Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline and Angela Lansbury.
From 1983, this televised version of Gilbert and Sullivan's beloved operetta "The Pirates of Penzance" was filmed in a studio in England and starred several well-known celebrities including Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt and Angela Lansbury. This is one of the better TV productions of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, second only to the televised operettas by the D'Oyle Carte Opera Company in the late 60's and 70's. Kevin Kline as the Pirate King is a classic example of an actor who could take on everything from dramatic movie roles to the silly role he plays here. He is genuinely having fun with the part of the vainglorious and lusty Pirate King, making this a highly enjoyable comedy rather than just a stuff, boring Victorian version of a comedy and furthermore, we are treated to his singing voice (surprise, surprise). His high baritone voice is a combination of opera and Broadway, much like the rest of his co-stars. Angela Lansbury as Ruth, the Pirate nurse, is simply wonderful. With her training in Broadway, British theatre and film, she is able to portray Ruth with lots of humor and nuance and makes her more lovable than other interpretors, as if the role was tailor-made for her, despite the fact the role was written for a deeper voice. Linda Ronstadt, of all people, plays the beautiful Edwardian heroine Mabel, daughter of the Major General Stanley (George Rose). Ronstadt's bravura vocal talents are so versatile that one would have mistaken her for an operatically trained soprano or Broadway singer. The role of Mabel calls for high coloratura and lyric melodiousness, all which Miss Ronstadt possessed. She is a wonderful actress and even if the role of Mabel is flat, she is still amazing. Good looking and slim Rex Smith sings the tenor role of Frederic, the pirate who captures Mabel's heart. He is clearly influenced by Broadway, right down to his mannerisms, but it works well, especially in making him a sort of matinée idol. Even if the production is not impressive (due to this being filmed in a studio, we get painted backdrops, plastic plants and flowers and phony facades of buildings) the cinematography by Douglas Slocombe is unusually beautiful, looking like a sort of romantic novel about pirates and beautiful Edwardian girls come to life. The story is quite simple, despite the many songs which seem silly and pointless. A group of pirates wish to marry the daughters of Major General Stanley. After many misunderstanding are cleared up, they do marry them. This is a delightful treat for fans of Gilbert and Sullivan, but it would not have been an attention grabber if not for the participation of Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline and Angela Lansbury.