PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL Previews- Page 2

[kvnerdman]

Posted: 4/5/25 at 10:08pm

Question for those that have attended the previews... when looking at the seating chart to purchase tickets, Row A in the center orchestra appears to have been removed. It goes from row AA to row B and does not show seats available or unavailable in row A. Can anyone confirm if you choose row AA (front row) do the actors use the row behind you during the show? Just wondering if we would be turning around to view something behind us. 

[MNVeryOwn]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 3:21am

Jumping in on the seating topic, how would the boxes be for this one?

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 7:59am

MNVeryOwn said: "Jumping in on the seating topic, how would the boxes be for this one?"

The boxes can be terrible in that theatre, depending on how the show is staged.  You won't see ANYTHING on the sides.

 

[hak5]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 12:45pm

can someone please share a pic of what the merchant looks like? thanx

[DavidDSimon]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 2:36pm

kvnerdman said: "Question for those that have attended the previews... when looking at the seating chart to purchase tickets, Row A in the center orchestra appears to have been removed. It goes from row AA to row B and does not show seats available or unavailable in row A. Can anyone confirm if you choose row AA (front row) do the actors use the row behind you during the show? Just wondering if we would be turning around to view something behind us."

No - was just in front row Saturday (although left side on aisle).  Nothing happens behind that front row - there's no actual gap between that row and the one behind it in the theater.  (And if you're in the front row center orch about 3-4 seats in from left aisle you will have some fun during the Pirate King song . . .)

Normally I don't like front row but someone else get these tickets for me.  I actually loved being that close for this one.

Updated On: 4/7/25 at 02:36 PM

[DavidDSimon]

Posted: 4/7/25 at 2:46pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I'm curious if people found fault in this production because of the changes. Again, it's not a show I know well enough to comment on any of that but am very curious to hear thoughts on that."

I've performed in standard Pirates productions several times (as well as several other G&S).  I know there are definitely G&S "purists" out there but as far as I'm concerned my knowing this show backwards and forwards made me enjoy it that much more!  Being able to know exactly how they changed things (whether it be lyrics to fit the concept or how they arranged the music for each number) was great.

There were a few things that I thought were a tiny bit flat compared to other numbers in the show.  And as another commentator mentioned, once you've seen a performer like Tony Azito do the Sergeant - almost any other performance is going to seem flat by comparison.  It's hard to judge what they did with the police on their own because I just can't erase the brilliance of him from my head.  The other big difference to me is Mabel - who in the originally is really a coloratura soprano and doesn't really have a huge presence in the show outside those arias and duets with Frederick (she only has 6 spoken lines in the original!).  With the new arrangements - the most impressive G&S vocals aren't there any more which makes her character take a bit more of a backseat in driving the show than usual (but I don't blame the actress - it's just how the part is written).  This show really belongs to the Pirates, Ruth, and Major General.

But overall - had a ball!

Updated On: 4/7/25 at 02:46 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/8/25 at 12:47am

I just saw a clip of Jinkx singing a song on TikTok and I’ve done the show twice and still cannot place it. Did they add in any songs from other G&S scores, or is the orchestration just so different?

[DavidDSimon]

Posted: 4/8/25 at 12:51am

IdinaBellFoster said: "I just saw a clip of Jinkx singing a song on TikTok and I’ve done the show twice and still cannot place it. Did they add in any songs from other G&S scores, or is the orchestration just so different?"

Yes - there are several added songs from other G&S operetta (including one from the Mikado, which you are referencing)  and a couple of numbers from pirates which have been cut).  They are different interpolations than what was done in the Papp version

[laurgirl220]

Posted: 4/9/25 at 4:29pm

Does anyone have a photo of the songs list?

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 4/12/25 at 10:48pm

I will be interested to hear more reactions to this.

I found the first act tonight near perfect: fast-paced, entertaining, hilarious at times, and featuring great acting and singing.  The buzz at intermission was palpable.

And then came Act Two.  Sigh.  Number after number after number that seemed to suck a touch more energy out of the theater with each successive one. Don't get me wrong.  They were sung well, staged well, and a few featured some strong dancing. 

But the cumulative effect was just ... dull?  Much more humorless than anything in the first act.   It felt like many of the numbers were added simply to check a box for a plot poin.

The sound mix seemed much more muddled in many of the second act numbers so maybe the lyrics were as clever as the first.  Only in the last 15 minutes did the show come alive again, but by then I was ready for it to be over.

I may be in the minority as the audience roared with applause as the finale concluded, but then when don't they nowadays.  Still, it was a good night out if only to experience Ramin chewing up the scenery and DHP doing DHP.  And the costumes and elaborate stage design are what people associate with a big Broadway show.

This experience reminded me Something Rotten which I recall having a fair number of moments that I thought were just perfect, but ultimately went flat.


 

[darquegk]

Posted: 4/13/25 at 9:53am

The original and the Papp version also have that bit of an energy void in the middle of Act 2 between the two Sergeant numbers. It’s why Papp added My Eyes are Fully Open, to ratchet up the wackiness to Act 1 levels amidst the slower portion.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 3:49pm

A Monsoon Is About to Hit These Pirates

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/theater/jinkx-monsoon-broadway-pirates-penzance-musical.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AU8.N9g7.1qs9yF95aeP8&smid=nytcore-android-share

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 4:56pm

I got to see the first preview and overall liked it. I'm not a G&S purist but I know Pirates (the Papp version especially). I just kept wondering why there were so many lyric changes that changed nothing. I understand updating a reference (sat a gee is now sang a G...fine!) but they'd change lyrics and just rephrase them basically changing "and I put on a sweater" to "My sweater is cozy when it's on" so I just couldn't figure out the why of it all unless it's so they can make money licensing this version vs the public domain original. 

The cast was all very good (I don't love Ramin and do miss the cartoon that was Kevin Kline) and I'm sure they're already much funnier since it takes the audience to really hone that. 

Again, I just didn't understand the updates and the "why" of New Orleans. They have a weird framing device of G&S thrilled to introduce the show to America in New Orleans and they are going to play roles themselves and I've no clue why that's necessary other than to give DHP a couple of jokes at the start. 

[The8re phan]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 8:23pm

Enjoyed this much much more than I thought I would....... at intermission, I expected someone would just give the Tony Award to DHP right there & then .  Hope we get a cast recording quickly, and am planning on catching this again before end-of July

Updated On: 4/17/25 at 08:23 PM

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 8:23pm

darquegk said: "The original and the Papp version also have that bit of an energy void in the middle of Act 2 between the two Sergeant numbers. It’s why Papp added My Eyes are Fully Open, to ratchet up the wackiness to Act 1 levels amidst the slower portion."

Don't agree at all that there's an energy void there. But if Papp thought so and that's why he added "My Eyes are Fully Open" (I doubt it--I think he wanted to give an additional big number to Smith and Ronstadt, thus interloping this and "Sorry her Lot"), I'm grateful. It's a wonderful addition. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 4/17/25 at 9:00pm

joevitus said: "darquegk said: "The original and the Papp version also have that bit of an energy void in the middle of Act 2 between the two Sergeant numbers. It’s why Papp added My Eyes are Fully Open, to ratchet up the wackiness to Act 1 levels amidst the slower portion."

Don't agree at all that there's an energy void there. But if Papp thought so and that's why he added "My Eyes are Fully Open" (I doubt it--I think he wanted to give an additional big numberto Smith and Ronstadt, thus interloping this and "Sorry her Lot", I'm grateful. It's a wonderful addition."

 

Actually "My Eyes are Fully Open" is a trio between Frederick, Pirate King and Ruth - wedged in between

"When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold " and "Away Away".

 

I really enjoyed this show though it does not hold a candle to the Papp production, which I saw many times during its run at the Delacourt and then Broadway. What I dsliked most about the new production is once more they have taken a glorious soprano role and changed it to a generic belter "Poor Wandering One" should be show stopper, instead it's just there. It doesn't help that the actress who plays Mabel has no stage presence whatsoever.

 

Updated On: 4/17/25 at 09:00 PM

[rburton66]

Posted: 4/19/25 at 11:30pm

It’s not your great-great-grandfather’s Pirates of Penzance! After the initial shock wore off that this is, at times, unrecognizable from the source material, I was charmed by it. The cast is giving it their absolute all and I equally loved Ramin Karimloo’s hamming it up and David Hyde Pierce’s dry wit. 

Updated On: 4/19/25 at 11:30 PM

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 4/20/25 at 12:50pm

I thought it was all delightful.  When those this officially open?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/20/25 at 1:02pm

Opening Night is on Thursday

[BETTY22]

Posted: 4/20/25 at 2:42pm

A LIVELY CAST AND SLICK STAGING CAN’T MAKE UP FOR WHAT’S LOST IN THIS WATERED-DOWN REVAMP

There’s bold reinterpretation—and then there’s simply losing the heart of the original. The latest production of The Pirates of Penzance, now sailing onto the stage with flashy updates and an eager cast, falls frustratingly into the latter category.

 

[pippy1]

Posted: 4/21/25 at 3:30pm

Bette's Turban said: "I thought it was all delightful. When those this officially open?"

I saw this yesterday and really liked it - so much fun! DHP is fabulous and made for this role. He had the audience in stitches and played to that wonderfully, I thought Ramin and Nicholas were excellent as well. I liked Samantha - she's a great actress with a great voice, but for some reason she didn't resonate as much - but still so good. Jinx was also hysterical. I am not sure if I have ever seen another production of Pirates of Penzance (that I can remember) so the update didn't bother me at all. Is the last number part of the original show or new? It had the audience clapping for an extending amount of time.

[IronMan]

Posted: 4/21/25 at 4:07pm

pippy1 said: " Is the last number part of the original show or new? It had the audience clapping for an extending amount of time."

The finale's music is from HMS Pinafore ("He Is An Englishman")  but the lyrics were newly written for this production.  I also saw it yesterday, and had a wonderful time.  Kudos to David Hyde Pierce for soldiering on at the top of Act II when (apparently) the use of stage fog triggered an alarm and the house lights came on, then an alarm could be heard for a minute before they got it shut off.

But I have to say, the sound in the front mezz was terrible.  The orchestra overpowered the chorus' first number so much that we couldn't understand any of the lyrics.  It happened a few more times during the show but they eventually got it under control.

[pippy1]

Posted: 4/21/25 at 4:23pm

IronMan said: "pippy1 said: "Is the last number part of the original show or new? It had the audience clapping for an extending amount of time."

The finale's music is fromHMS Pinafore("He Is An Englishman") but the lyrics were newly written for this production. I also saw it yesterday, and had a wonderful time. Kudos to David Hyde Pierce for soldiering on at the top of Act II when (apparently) the use of stage fogtriggered an alarm and the house lights came on, then an alarm could be heard for a minute before they got it shut off.

But I have to say, the sound in the front mezz was terrible. The orchestra overpowered the chorus' first number so muchthat we couldn't understand any of the lyrics. It happened a few more times during the show but they eventuallygot it under control."

Thank you! 

And yes! I was very worried after the first couple of numbers because we couldn't hear it well either - and we were Row N in center orchestra. But then it seemed to get better. We did hear the alarm, but just couldn’t figure out where it was coming from, and noticed the lights, but DHP did a great job of plugging along so it wasn’t a true distraction.

 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/22/25 at 11:34pm

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Roundabout can be…spotty, but I was delighted by this production, on the whole. Ramin is wonderfully dashing, DHP is reliably hilarious, and I found Jinkx Monsoon to be genuinely fantastic, more than holding her own amongst such Broadway stalwarts. 

I’d honestly love to see all three of them get nominated, but if only Jinkx makes the cut in Featured Actress, I’ll be happy.

Updated On: 4/23/25 at 11:34 PM

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/23/25 at 10:32pm

Unfortunately this did not work for me.  Eager for it to end for much of the second act.  David Hyde Pierce is always fun. Sets and costumes were good.