Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive) [VHS]

Amazon.com:
This Pirates of Penzance is primarily a historical document, part of the Broadway Theater Archive television series.It presents, with some inevitable, tiny technical shortcomings, a live 1980 performance in CentralPark, not the 1983 movie of the same name that also starred Linda Ronstadt and KevinKline. Those who remember that film, which had the benefit of retakes and editing,a lavish production budget, and the spaciousness of a Hollywood studio, may find thisvideo less polished. On its own terms, it is nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable.

Advantages of this live performance include a sense of spontaneity, and the feeling ofbeing part of a theatrical audience that is visibly and audibly having a very good time.The (reduced and partly electronic) orchestra is also visible; scenery is minimal; theonstage pirate boat, excellent for a live production, is no match for what a movie canoffer. The voices are uneven, and some of them evoke Broadway more than London.But the performance is well styled, lively, and energetic. Gilbert and Sullivan's witty sparklecomes through clearly. --Joe McLellan

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Awesome in spite of Linda Ronstadt
This is hilarious!
Kevin Kline and Rex Smith are terrific, as are the other less famous actors. Linda Ronstadt was poorly cast and can't act at all; but if you can ignore her part, you will enjoy this version of a classic operetta!
Rating: - What a colossal disappointment!
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)

I've loved Gilbert & Sullivan operettas for upwards of 70 years. Now I'm grieving over the worst DVD reproduction of a performance it's ever been my misfortune to view. The sound is atrocious, the orchestra drowns out the lyrics time & again, the diction of various performers is unintelligible, the camera coverage is erratic & clumsy, the color is washed out, ... Read More
Rating: - Not deserving of even 1 star!
The quality of this DVD is so poor, it's unwatchable. Looks like a pirated tape. What a disappointment! I had to toss it.
Rating: - Great Complement to the VHS Movie Release
It just doesn't get any better than this cast in this production.We have had the VHS tape of the movie forever, and love it. Even our little kids love it now. So I was happy to see this was available.Like others have commented the sound can be poor and the video quality isn't great. But, to see it on the stage rather than a sound set is really cool.It is fun to see both the differnces and similarities. And, while we LOVE Angela Lansbury, it is a real hoot to see Patricia Routledge in the role. ... Read More
Rating: - A Gem of a Performance from Patricia Rougledge
I did not like this production when I saw it in London, but I bought this for Patricia Rouledge's performance and I was not disappointed. She is a really good singer and funny.

Kevin Kline as the Pirate King and George Rose as the Major General were equally good, but Linda Ronstadt was a disappointment. Her singing style does not suit this type of musical and her acting was not all that impressive either.

Even though it was filmed live and outdoors in 1980 the quality is pretty ... Read More