The Pirates of Penzance [CAST RECORDING]

Dennis Masuzzo (Performer), Michael Tomasulo (Performer), Simeon Westbrooke (Performer), Richard Cohen (Performer), Steven Hartman (Performer), Arthur Sullivan (Composer), William Elliott (Conductor), Keith Underwood (Performer), Sheryl Henze (Performer), Gary Shocket (Performer), Larry Spivack (Performer), Richard Coff (Performer), Keith Green (Performer), John Bova (Performer), Lauten Draper (Performer), Ron Stinson (Performer), Alexander Korey (Performer), Bonnie Simmons (Performer), Brian Bullard (Performer), Danny Marcus (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Dennis Masuzzo, Michael Tomasulo, Simeon Westbrooke, Richard Cohen, Steven Hartman, et al.
• Conductor: William Elliott
• Composer: Arthur Sullivan
• Audio CD (February 24, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000002GXE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,431 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Producer Joseph Papp's Broadway spin on Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance cannily employs pop firepower in its casting, adding an inviting Yankee accent to roles normally associated with (and sometimes embalmed in) plummy English locution. Erstwhile country-rocker Linda Ronstadt, who by this point had already proven she could tackle pre-rock pop standards, stretches successfully as its heroine. Rex Smith, then dismissed as a pop-rock heartthrob, proves he could be a "legitimate" musical leading man, a niche he's since inhabited comfortably. And Kevin Kline returns to his stage training as the hearty King of the Pirates. Onstage, Papp celebrated the slapstick possibilities of the deliberately silly plot, which weaves reliably tart observations about class consciousness and gender politics into a pirate band's invasion of a Cornish coastal town. A faithful big-screen adaptation added Angela Lansbury for marquee clout, but even without that grande dame of the Great White Way, this original stage cast is a corker, the music glorious and the performances spirited. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Penzance Pleases!, September 21, 2005

By	L. K. Dumas (Roseville, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is very difficult to understand the words of practically everything sung by the chorus of a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company recording of Gilbert & Sullivan. Not so with this brilliant Broadway cast album of The Pirates of Penzance. You can listen to this one without the printed copy of the book and lyrics in hand. The individual cast performances are fresh and give the feeling that this musical is being performed for the first time. This is not the pro-forma, ritual performance that sounds like everyone is just going through the motions. You will want this on your portable player for a long time.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood crushes never fade, October 9, 2001

By	"anaisnine" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This movie changed my life. I first recall seeing the movie on cable in the early 80's. I was around 6 or 7 at the time, and the one thing I remembeer was ....how 'darn' sexy Rex Smith was!!!!
Granted, I did like the music and I thought the whole thing was funny and a bit cartoonish, so I appreciated it on that level as a kid..but the key ingredient for me was Rex Smith. Now , I was too young to remember him as a teen-idol, so this film was my first introduction to him. And I think at that age not only was I struck by his angelic good looks-(ladies, admit it..the man can wear a pair of tight pants)- but by the sheer beauty of his tenor voice, and his pure and perfect (in my opinion) vibrato. Its his voice that made me fall in love with music and with beautiful singing in particular..to this day I consider a great even vibrato a key requirement to a great singing voice. Years later in highschool, I found this recording on tape in my public library and fell in love all over again. Sigh...this a bit sad to admit, but..I listened to this tape walking to school in the mornings and on weekends when as Id clean the house..The play itslef is a classic, the dialouge is superb, the comedy , though a bit hammy, is undeniable ..and in this recording we have three gems, Rex and Rondstadt's voices and Klines over the top Pirate king..and lets not forget the late great George Rose as the major general...to this day I cant keep up when he goes into double time during his opening solo. Its this recording also that made delve deeper into the G&S repertoire. I have many comp and operretta recordings of G&S...but sadly for me..there is only one version of Pirates of Penzance that will do...and only one Frederic.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You gotta love these pirates!, August 10, 2005

By	Joyceee "Joyceee" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Classic Gilbert and Sullivan comedy, with young Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt. What's not to love?? Libretto (lyrics) included with CD (but teeny tiny print) so you'll know the next line after "I am the very model of a modern Major General..." Buy it, play it, love it. Even young kids like the story, when you explain the fast words in simple terms. (Apprentace to a pirate, not a pilot? That's silly!)