TheLittleSongbird I'd say yes. Although I did thoroughly enjoy the 2006 Opera Australia and the 1994 Sydney performances(the latter is not for everybody though) and the 1983 film, this Pirates really stood out. All are much better than the 1982 D'Oyly Carte and 1985 Stratford productions, which I was disappointed by. The Pirates of Penzance was my first Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and possibly my favourite. You can definitely see why here. The lyrics and dialogue have always been hilarious and they are still here. The costumes and sets do look handsome, and the staging is always fun and never dull. It is even better musically, with stylish orchestral playing and conducting, the sisters are charming, the pirates lively and the policemen hilarious(and not under-pitch like they were in D'Oyly Carte). The performances are really impressive. Kevin Kline is not quite as good as he is in the 1983 film but his Pirate King still has charisma and swagger. George Rose's Major General Stanley is impeccable vocally and dramatically, he sings the patter like it comes easy to him when really it must have taken him a lot of practise and he performs with such gusto. Tony Azito is alongside Richard Alexander for Opera Australia the best Police Sergeant on DVD, his facial expressions and body language are priceless. Rex Smith is a dashing Frederic, and Linda Ronstadt is charming as Mabel, especially liked her duet with the flautist, a shame really that it went over the audience's heads. Patricia Routledge is a funny and sympathetic Ruth also, superior to Angela Lansbury in the film. Interesting to see Alice Playten(Blix in the fantasy film Legend) as Edith. Overall, a wonderful Pirates of Penzance. 10/10 Bethany Cox

wooddad This is the theater cast that prompted the movie, also starring Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline and Rex Smith. I always felt the movie was rather cheesy, even by '80s standards. Kline shines as the Pirate King. He mugs well with the audience, and has some wonderful business, often involving the pit orchestra. (The stage was built partly around the pit, which makes for some wonderful interaction.) Smith and Ronstadt both have pop/rock roots, and it shows. Smith at least has some theatrical bona fides, having debuted in "Grease." Still, musical theater is nothing if not camp, and Smith and Ronstadt are both sufficiently campy in this production. (I note, with some glee, that they had to key most of Ronstadt's arias a third or more.) We bought this version because it was the only one available (all the others had been "returned to vendor!") and were pleasantly surprised. I'd seen the movie and had to quell my gag reflex through most of it. This works much better as the theatrical version from whence it sprang 120 years ago. Still fresh; still funny. See it!

NJMoon Let's straighten out a few points in previous comments first. This is the video of the original stage production, which started at the Delacourte (outdoor) theatre in New York's Central Park (it was free!) and then moved to Broadway (indoors) with a slightly different cast and then was made into a proper film - again with minor cast changes.Patricia Routledge originated the role of Ruth but was replaced on Broadway by Estelle Parsons. In the film, the role of Ruth was taken by Angela Lansbury. This was the only principal role recast in any incarnation of the Park/Video, original Broadway, or film version. I don't know why Routledge and Parsons were replaced. The smaller character of Samuel was also re-cast on Broadway (Stephen Hanan took over). Oddly, when the film was made, the original Broadway cast recorded in a New York studio singing the soundtrack, but finances prevented those playing the smaller roles from actually going to England to do the filming. English actors played Kate, Edith, Isabel and Samuel, lip synching to the original Broadway cast. This 1980 video isn't quite as technically bad as some claim. The percussionist is practically a major character and a love duet between Frederic and Mabel turns into a trio with the conductor in the middle. But all in all it is certainly watchable. It is unfortunate that a jet passes over the park just when the singers launch into the a capella "Hail Poetry", but the sound is not all that bad. I had to jack up the volume on my home theatre a bit to compensate. Having seen the original cast live on Broadway, I was happy to finally see Routledge in the role of Ruth. She does a bit of ad libbing here and there but is very good. PIRATES was her last New York musical after appearing in a string of flops including a disastrous 1976 musical called 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE where she played all the first ladies. After PIRATES she returned to England and...well, the rest is television history. The Samuel in this video is much more operatic than his Broadway replacement Hanan. The incredible George Rose is in top form here while the later film version is better for the other principals, who had three years to perfect their roles. This video also gives us the complete Act One. The film version fades out before Ruth's final plea to Frederic. Other differences (vocally and visually) between the Park (this video) and Broadway/Film are minimal. If you are a G&S purist, this Wilford Leach version is not for you. But it has become the standard interpretation of PIRATES in stage productions everywhere.

terrydo I have just watched this film for about the 20th time ,and I can assure you Ruth was played by Angela Lonsbury not Patricia Routlidge The one I watched I taped off the tv , all the other cast were the same. is this another version ?many thanks T J Careless