I found their previous production of Iolanthe rather too reliant on the overuse of nudge-nudge references to the word “fairies”, but this all-male Pirates of Penzance, now almost ten years old, is less blatantly camp and very enjoyable.
Wilton’s, with its glorious music hall tradition and uncomfortable seats, is definitely the right place for mould-breaking productions and having high-pitched male voices for roles written for female singers is definitely out of the ordinary.
Impressively, the singers do not resort to falsetto, nor do they have the ethereal quality of countertenors.
They are just high-pitched male voices which add to the humour of the piece.
Tom Bales in particular, in the lead female role of Mabel, was in great voice and reached the high notes with commendable skill and no signs of strain.
They also demonstrated one curious advantage of having an all-male cast, which is that they could make fun of the apparent innocence and vulnerability of their characters.
The whole operetta pokes fun at the Victorian correctness of the young ladies, and when these roles are played by men, the fun is even less inhibited than usual.
The whole production is held together by musical director Richard Baker who performed on the piano a score that usually takes a whole orchestra.
• Tickets: www.wiltons.org.uk or 020 7702 2789 (until March 16, matinees on Thursday and Saturday).
