Product Description

For most of the 20th century, the D'Oyly Carte Opera performed HMS Pinafore with a companion piece, Trial by Jury. Opera Australia re-unites these long-standing stage-mates with two fresh productions and an inspired cast. While HMS Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's first full-length satirical work and first major international success, Trial by Jury was their first collaboration - the show's outrageous antics made it the toast of London.

In this filmed recording, Anthony Warlow, Australia's musical theatre superstar, is at the helm as both the "right good captain" and the "good judge" too. He is joined by a stellar cast featuring David Hobson, John Bolton Wood and Colette Mann as "dear little Buttercup".

Featuring: Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia Melbourne Chorus, Orchestra Victoria.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12454 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-06-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 130 minutes

Customer Reviews

"Poor Little Buttercup," And I Know Why
What with the demise of the D'Oyly-Carte opera company, we should be grateful for these performances coming from the Australian Opera Company. Unlike so many of their DVD competitors, e.g. the Stratford Canadian productions, they aren't mischievously bent, owing to stage director vanity, on distorting the works in question. True, the Gilbert settings have been updated in each of the works here, but the wit of the librettist and the winning music of Sullivan have been maintained, so the mindless changes in time period may be easily overlooked.

Both productions, by and large, are distinguished by excellent voices and competent acting. Warlow, Hobson, Speight, and Wood all do even more than justice to their roles. But still there is one drawback that's unnerving, the casting of Little Buttercup, the woman who wonders why in the first place she's called "Poor" Little Buttercup. I agree with the judgment of numerous previous reviewers on this point. The poverty of Little Buttercup in this production is no mystery. Collette Mann, unable to sing or act the part, has been mind-bogglingly miscast. What, one has to ask, were the casting directors thinking? She is the ungainly spot of mud that compromises the otherwise elegant swan.

Highly Recommend
A fitting rendition to two of the greatest musicals of all time. In widescreen. Little Buttercup is a little raspy, but all-in-all, a wondeful production.

Terrific Gilbert & Sullivan
For G&S fans, these are terrific productions reasonably priced. The live audience participation makes it seem as if I'm there, too. There is all the joy I recall from attending G & S as a child. Gilbert & Sullivan were not about perfection but good fun.