Review of Our 2003 Production

From Chicago Critic:

H.M.S. Pinafore

Libretto by William S. Gilbert

Music by Arthur Sullivan

Directed by Martha Adrienne

Presented by the Savoy-aires at Chute Auditorium, Evanston, IL

This was my second year seeing a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta by the Savoy-aires. I enjoyed Pinafore immensely. Musical director Daniel Robinson had the 40+ member orchestra sounding robust. G & S’ melodies never sounded so quaint. Martha Adrienne, stage director for Pinafore, had the large energetic cast all on the same page in this funny and well-sung show.

From Kingsley Day’s charming Admiral to Peter C. Voigt’s Ralph Rackstraw, we hear fine voices, cute harmonies and outstanding solos from these talents. Martha Adrienne was effective and sang Little Buttercup beautifully. Sonali Rodriguez was fantastic as Josephine as she lilted through her songs with grace and style. I especially liked the work, both acting and singing of James Earl Jones II. He has a strong, lovely opera-trained voice and effectively sold his numbers with zest and exuberance. He is a major talent.

The Savoy-aires needs to recruit more younger performers and they need to mic some of the singers so they can be heard in the poor acoustical middle school venue. The large orchestra sounds great with fine numbers like “We Sail the Ocean Blue,” “Now Give Thee Cheers,” etc. Savoy-aires offers their patrons a first class entertainment as they honor Gilbert & Sullivan’s fine classics.

For $20 or so, Savoy-aires give audiences a glimpse into the marvelous wonders of 19th Century operettas with fun melodies and comical lyrics. Gilbert & Sullivan are timeless shows nicely performed in Evanston by a dedicated troupe. If you have never taken your family to see a Gilbert & Sullivan show, than take them to any of the Savoy-aires’ productions. They do G & S justice.

Recommended

Tom Williams

Tom99@chicagocritic.com

October 24, 2003

The Savoyaires
P.O. Box 126
Evanston, IL 60204
E-mail: info@savoyaires.org
Phone: (773) 262-2954

The Savoyaires are sponsored in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency