Customer Reviews

A good double - By: Freddie, 25 Aug 2008
Two great Gilbert & Sullivan productions together on one DVD. This is a great package. Both are well performed, energetic & entertaining. Several of the cast appearin both performances, including Anthony Warlow & David Hobson.

Trail By Jury is brought forward to modern times. I am not generallyin favour of this treatment of Gilbert & Sullivan, although I understand the need to make them as accessible as possible to new audiences. Fortunately, the transformation did not distract from the great performances on show. Anthony Warlow manages to maintain a Scottish accent even while singingin his most unique portrayal of the Learned Judge, while David Hobson brilliantly captures the arrogant attitude of the defendant, Edwin.

HMS Pinafore is one of the best productions of the show I have seen, very lively & polished. The one disappointment is Colette Mann as Little Buttercup. With all due respect to her acting ability, her vocals do not stand upin the midst of so many great voices. Perhaps she was included to attract a more contemporary audience.

Opera Australia have once again shown they are probably currently the world leadersin producing DVDs of live Gilbert & Sullivan shows. We can only hope for more to come.

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Good musically, but atrocious Buttercup - By: MG, 07 May 2008
HMS Pinafore is mostly very well done, although Buttercup nearly spoils it. Some other reviewers complained about her, but her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Also, the ship & uniforms are a little more modern than Gilbert intended, but not enough to spoil it.

Be aware that the "big, big D" is not left out, we always mute it for that point.

Trial by Jury is very much modernized. The costumes, the courtroom, & everything. Edwin & Angelina are portrayed as warring celebrities, which is not exactly what Gilbert intended. Also, the Learned Judge appears to have had a little too much to drink. This performance might be popular today, but I don't think Gilbert would have approved of it.

Despite the modernization, however, both operas do stick very closely to Gilbert's original words. There are a couple places where something that a modern audience wouldn't understand was updated. For example,in Josephine's soloin the second act of H.M.S. Pinafore, a reference to Gillow's was changed to Marks & Spencer, & the line before it was changed to keep the rhyme. I don't mind this kind of updating, & I think Gilbert would have approved of it, & might have made similar changes himself. Almost nobody today knows what Gillow's is anyway.

"We Sail the Ocean Blue" loses some of it's instrumental introduction, but that's the only cut, other than that it's complete musically.

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HMS Pinafore & Trial by Jury - By: Edward Smart, 24 Jun 2007
HMS Pinafore I have over the years seen many performances of this comic opera.. musically it is by far the best performance I have ever seen, with a little comic relaxation from the more formal productions. The scenery, whilst suitable for this particular performance, was a background of a more modern ship than one would expect from a more traditional production. The scenery wouldin my opinion have been improved by giving the impression of the old sailing ship.. Whilst the uniforms & dresses of the cast were absolutely first rate.. As regards Trial by Jury once again superb musically but must confess to preferring the traditional dress rather than the modernish dress of this production,in spite of those points the whole is really superb value for money EJS

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Outstanding Gilbert & Sullivan - By: John Lewis, 19 Oct 2006
I have seen many versions of HMS Pinafore & even those performed by the famous D'oly Cart company, but this Opera Australia DVD is the very best that I have ever seen. The whole production has been carefully directed to make it a totally enjoyable viewing experience. The principal cast members have voices which are rarely heardin the modern theatre. I would highly recomment this version to anyone who likes G&S, but to those who do not know if their work, this will be a delightful way to get to know it.

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Contrast - By: Caz, 17 Oct 2006
Terrific pairing of a pretty "straight" interpretation of Pinafore combined with a rip-roaring version of Trial. In Pinafore the production evokes a romatic Victorian naval idyll with impossibly clean & worthy ships & sailors, a sweet & proper heroine & appropriately brave & dutiful captains & sailors - with a delightful monarch of the sea! In the latter, the protagonists are portrayed as warring celebrities, complete with adoring fans & paparazzi. Highly entertaining character acting from all the stars,lovely singing & chorus work. All look as if they are having an exceedingly good time, which is as it should be. Astonishingly chameleon-like transformations from the major stars as they change from one performance to the other.