Customer Reviews

Pinafore! (Original Los Angeles Cast)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw this incredibly clever, funny show many times in Los Angeles and while the CD does preserve a record of the show, it does not, however, give it the justice it - and Mark Savage, its creator - deserves. The vocals could use some reverb - things sound a bit tinny - but it does present one of the best performances I have ever seen and heard.

R. Christofer Sands as "Joseph/Josephine" gives a hysterical performance. His radient, clear countertenor voice effortlessly soared to the soprano heights clearly, amazingly and obviously well within his range. His is a muscular voice, with a delicate vibrato, clever phrasing, expert timing, and spot-on tonal quality. Not at all like the fat soprano sound produced by most countertenors, Sands' voice was clear and bell-like, sounding quite a bit like the legendary Barbara Cook. As for his live performance, one critic described it as "the closest we come to American Kabuki." I kept thinking of Cirque du Soleil. He was brilliant.

Christopher Hall as the "love is blind" lad, 'Dick Dockstrap, whose lanky, yet muscular body houses a voice quaking with ardor, and the swarthy, handsome, daddy-type 'Captain Corkinit' of Michael Gregory are the other standouts of this recording. As 'Bitter Butterball,' Debra Lane, the only real woman in the cast, displays genuine warmth and affection in her rich, creamy voice. David Gillam Fuller as 'Senator Barney Crank' is all appropriate bombast, while Wilson Raiser as the duplicitous 'Harry Heavyset' is ineffective and ultimately forgettable. The chorus of sailor boys could benefit the most by adding reverb, and the 'DQ's' (sister, cousin, aunt) were more visually effective than vocal.

This recording may not be for everyone, but there is no denying its biting wit and clever satire.

This show was an absolute HOOT and a surprise sleeper of the LA 2001 Theatre Season! After its opening on September 7, "Pinafore!" won the triple crown of LA Theatre: LA Times Critic's Choice, LA Weekly's Pick of the Week and Backstage West Critic's Pick. The show ran an amazing nine months to Sold Out houses.

While hearing this CD is not the same experience as seeing the show, it does preserve the exhilarating "soprano" of countertenor R. Christofer Sands winner, who's performance was and remains worthy of the myriad of accolades it received.

Winning the LA Ovation award for his performance, R. Christofer Sands was also nominated for local Robby, BSW/Garland and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards. His brilliance - unique, fresh and original - was astonishingly and unfathomably denied these honors. However, writer Mark Savage was justly awarded these accolades for his adaptation of one of the most well-known G&S works.The show also won many local awards for its musical direction (Ron Snyder) and clever choreography (Ken Roht), and the LA Weekly Theatre Awards presented Debra Lane and R. Christofer Sands with Special Commendations for Musical Performance.

Following its success in LA and Chicago, and Best Overall Production Excellence Award at the 2003 NYCFringe International Festival, "Pinafore!" is currently hoping to find a safe harbor in NYC. Here's hoping for a delightfully long voyage there.

Hysterically, funny, well sung...If you like COMEDY in your Musical Comedy, this is the CD to get.

I saw this show twice in West Hollywood where it played for months. I am a fan of G&S and Pinafore and it was astounding to see where Mr. Savage went with this very delightful adaptation as he was very true to the original while changing almost every bit. Interestingly some lines remain exactly as Gilbert wrote them simply because they fit so well ("the Queen's navy" fits quite nicely as do other snippets.)

The production was slim on flash and expensive scenery but the energy and hunkiness of the cast made up for it along with the great libretto. The music unfortunately had to be played on piano because of the space.

While watching the boys do the show live was a great evening, listening to the rather cheap sounding recording does not hold the same pleasure especially if you've ever heard a recording previously of Pinafore.

One of the brilliant casting choices of the show is to have the young ingenue played by a counter-tenor in drag, but while his acting was stop-the-show funny -- the solo singing verged on grating as alot of it was out of his range.

There is also a few moments that stand out as truly strange choices that detracted from the show (including Lady Marmelade for the drag queens was one I can think of).

So buy this CD if only to hear a really great gay adaptation of this show, but if you are looking for a brilliant performance I would recommend the more traditional Doyle Carte recordings of the show. Of course, if they ever decide to tour this production (and they should) definitely go see it.