PBS Arts Premier: The Guthrie Theater Presents H.M.S. Pinafore
The PBS Arts Fall Festival premieres Friday, October 14 with a new production of the beloved classic HMS Pinafore from the Guthrie Theater. Gilbert and Sullivan’s first blockbuster is among the most crowd-pleasing comic musicals in history, loved for its dynamite songs, gleefully entertaining story and saucy satire. The captain’s daughter is in love with an ordinary sailor, but her father has a more sophisticated suitor in mind. Will she and her beloved defy convention and set sail for love? Filled with Sullivan’s memorable melodies — infused with fresh musical arrangements ranging from big band swing to classic pop — HMS Pinafore is pure joy and sensational entertainment for everyone, young or old.
The performance was filmed at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in August 2011. The show’s cast includes (in alphabetical order) Lauren Asheim, Christina Baldwin, Robert O. Berdahl, Joseph Bigelow, Nathan Bird, Nathaniel Braga, Barbara Bryne, Seri Johnson, Aleks Knezevich, Timotha Lanae, Adam Lendermon, Heather Lindell, Molly Sue McDonald, Nicholas McGough, Robb McKindles, Tinia Moulder, Alfie Parker, Jr., Adrian Pena, Simone Perrin, Kersten Rodau, Laura Rudolph, Adam Sarette, Jason Simon, Brian Skellenger, Brian Sostek, Peter Thomson and J. Tyler Whitmer.
Actor Rainn Wilson hosts the evening’s presentation, produced by PBS member station Twin Cities Public Television.
Watch October 14 at 9:00 p.m. on WCVE PBS / WHTJ PBS.
As part of PBS’ commitment to increasing every American’s access and participation in the arts, PBS will present a multi-platform event every Friday night into December, starting on October 14th, and featuring a range of artists and performances from nine different communities and celebrity hosts from each locale. Full-length performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, profiles of artists and performers, and mini-documentaries of women rock-and-rollers, banjo pickers, award-winning choreographers and local art scenes are a front row seat and back stage pass to entertain and inspire viewers.
In addition, PBSArts.org will host weekly curated immersive, themed exhibits that take consumers beyond the television experience and into the creative process itself, and PBS will create innovative classroom tools to help fill gaps in arts education.
It is an odd thing to find a musical director who thinks that he knows more about Sullivan's music than Sir Arthur Sullivan did! Weird changes in meter, slowed-down tempo, strange orchestration...why not just write your own, rather than ruining a masterpiece?
Combine that with the miserable direction (nearly all the jokes from the original production trampled, distracting characterizations, grade-school level overacting permitted) and you have a perfect wreck of a production.
I am no absolute purist, and have often enjoyed productions of classics with a new take on the material, but this was dreadful.
As a lifelong fan of G&S and having seen productions of the old Doyly Carte Opera Co., the Straford, Ontario repertory theatre and acting myself in University of Michigan productions of Pinafore...... I can only say that this was horrid!It was an abomination. It was more than taking liberties with the libretto, the characterization of the captain was idiotic and a gulf away from the original as well as their scoring changes. The addition of Queen Victoria as a character was also bad, blocking and choreography way off base. I hope that those who were introduced to G&S by this production, realize that there is much better out there and seek it out. This was the destruction of a classic, badly done from beginning to end!
Hey, I'm an old fogey too (though maybe my iron-clad stomach lining is still intact), but I absolutely loved this Pinafore. Maybe the funniest and best one I've ever seen. Our local Virginia Opera did a "modernized" version of Pirates of Penzance years ago, with "updated" music, and it was a sheer disaster. But this Pinafore by the Guthrie is a real joy. I'm looking forward to buying the DVD.
My wife and I watched about 20 minutes, and that is all we could stomach. This is NOT G&S, but some sort of Broadway-wannabe rock musical. The music is completely changed, and many additional lyrics inserted. I was nauseated by the entire exercise. All the lilt and beauty of the original production are lost. Guthrie Theater has no right to call this HMS Pinafore.
WHAT A JOY TO SEE MY FRIEND SERI AND THE WHOLE CAST !!! CONGRATS !!!
I have been looking for some time for a digital radio but all taht I can find are car radioes and ones for walkers...but none just to use in the home. Do you know of places where digital radios (so that I can get your other station)
Thanks again
Hello,
Here is a good starting point to find HD Radio Retailers near you: http://www.hdradio.com/
Hope this was of help. Thanks.
Thanks for tonight's Gilbert and Sullivan production. We need more programming like this. Thanks, again.
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