4 Dec-22 Jan 2005. Back in 1879, Sullivan himself when commenting on Pirates of Penzance wrote "I think it will be a great success, for it is exquisitely funny, and the music is strikingly tuneful and catching." He was absolutely right, the operetta has been delighting English and US audiences ever since. In this production Richard Suart plays Major General Stanley and Mark Wilde is Frederic, Karl Daymond plays the Pirate King and Jean Rigby is Ruth. The conductors are Mark Shanahan and Murray Hipkin. Elijah Moshinsky's Lyric Opera of Chicago production of W S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance sees soft-hearted pirates, bungling policemen, husband-hungry sisters, a pompous Major-General and a hopelessly duty-bound hero all adrift on the high seas trying to unravel a love story that may not come to an end for another 63 years!

A very safe bet, Gilbert and Sullivan never disappoint.