I really love this version. This is one of the reasons why that this Penzance is the most fun production I've ever witnessed. Not just because they don't follow the traditional norm, but also because they have a HELL OF A LOT OF FUN doing those high kicks. That was a lot of fun.
Our D&D group used to joke about bards using their inspiration on stealth checks with a “Song of Sneaking”. I never once thought I’d ever hear it until today…
My goodness. When I was a pirate in this play, we were exhausted by the end of this song. I can't imagine doing the finale of the song 4 more times! Serious props here. :) John English will always be one of my favorite Pirate Kings.
Yeah this group really seems to be enjoying themselves while doing this song, I have to give them two thumbs up. The Pirates of penzance has been and is still probally one of the my most favorite stage shows ever.
I can't help but think, Gilbert & Sullivan would have Thoroughly Approved of this performance, of their musical ! It captures the spirit of the thing, to a T !
My FAVOURITE song of this whole show, it shows me the art of true performance when one has really captured the crowd's unbridled enthusiasm. Happy 60th, Jon English!
I saw this live back in the 80’s and it was absolutely marvellous. They had the audience on their feet clapping and crying and laughing and screaming, it was truely wonderful. I played one of General Stanley’s daughters in my first ever musical when I was 12 and have loved it ever since. RIP John English, apparently his understudy only filled in for John the once and was much shorter than John and so the pirate boots came up to his armpits,
Many years ago we got free tickets from a friend in the business to the first night of an earlier version of this production. It was huge fun. Jon English was over the top in everything (of course) and Simon Gallaher was a terrific romantic lead. He had fun with it too. The Fabulous Singlettes were fabulous. The modern major general was great and Mabel was very sweet. She could sing, too. The police were just as they should be. It was a wonderful production. Best night out ever. I've just started to listen again. This Mabel, Helen Donaldson, is superb.
I never get tired of watching this brilliant production, I cannot watch any other company now, nothing compares to Jon English as the Pirate King.....he is great !!!!!
That was incredible!! *That* is taking the comedy of a G&S show and just running mad with it. Absolutely brilliant! And you can tell how much fun the performers had doing it, which makes it even more fun to watch. :0) This whole production looks like it was fantastic! Wonderful job!
When I was in college they did a production of this, and when he said "center bit" they just held up a big question mark. This was well before Google, or the Internet, existed. Just for kicks, I finally got around to looking this up. Google says it means "a tool for boring cylindrical holes." I think the joke writes itself.
It is Gilbert and Sullivan's nod as to just how inappropriate some opera music can be for the plot. For example in Verdi's Rigoletto, a group of men are about to abduct a girl in the dead of night and decide to sing in chorus 'quietly, quietly' (zitti, zitti).
My love of musicals coincides somewhere around here ,watching Jon English as the Pirate King as a kid. This whole production was great, fantastic cast overall, and some great touches to update it and keep it accessible while still sustaining the beating heart of G&S's intent. Mikado and Pinafore were also great, but here is where it started. Thanks Jon. One of the most versatile and consistently excellent performers Australia has ever produced. I'm going to be binge watching these Essgee productions for the next week if anyone needs me.
Absolutely amazing! Jon English is excellent in this role. :) I can't believe he was able to do so many encores! Guess that proves what an amazing actor he is. :)
Remember seeing this production when it came to Perth. what a fantastic performance had tears running down my face watching this part of the show. My stomach hurt for about 3 days afterwards from laughing so much. Jon English fantastic love the purple pants. They came back to Perth about 2 years later and went again with same reaction
They missed the all important, "Away!" I've seen this so many, many times. Love it so much. Dear Pirate King, I love your purple pants. Meet me at the...
awesome performance which I had the pleasure to see live with my children, something which has and will stick in their minds for ever as a treasured memory, Jon English was a total legend long may his memory live
I took my children too, and it was fabulous, I’m so glad I have the lovely memories of that night. They loved it. Jon English was superb, and Simon Gallagher too. Rest In Peace dear John. Yes all these years later even though the kids have all left home and I’m old now, I still think of it. Wonderful!
i love this song! i was lucky enough to tour on this show several times. This is my fav song next to pirate king and when the foeman. I miss all these guys and girls!
this is amazing. the new york gilbert and sullivan players just did this at my school today and our choir was in it. i really like this version though. it's great!
I love how he (Jon English) would tear open his shirt and show his bare chest. Yes, I've seen this production, also, met the man in the flesh. He "ripped" his shirt open in front of myself and my twin sister after the show.
I remember going and see this twice!!!!!! I got to meet Jon after the show at the State Theatre AND I got to hold his wine glass whilst he signed my programme. Such a fun and energetic production!!!!!
I've always loved this. I was in a school production in '74 and saw the 80's production with Jon English and Marina Prior. It was awesome. And don't knock the man he's fab. Should have seen him in the 70's in his lace up leather pants!
I never get tired of this show. I've been in it at school, seen countless different productions of it. But I still want to see something professional like this awesomeness. With Jon English and all.
Absolutely Brilliant performance, thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it, really entertaining Loved this song best of all. The encores were so funny, I keep watching it over again.
whoo hoo!!! i love Jon!!! I have all the g & s trilogy on dvd ( 2 copies) cos i have worn one out!!! I would dearly love it to grace the stage again. Saw this show 20 odd times live. LOVE IT!
I love this production of Pirates of Penzance! I saw it in Melbourne back in 1994 (or thereabouts) and this song was one of my favourites! I have it on video too (plus the other 2 shows which I also saw live - The Mikado and HMS Pinafore, both featuring Jon English and Simon Gallaher). Awesome stuff - there's nothing like a live show! Go Jon! You rock! (hehe - I still love those purple pants!).
I luv them soooo much they are all just amazing. this one is my favourite song. I saw it on sky arts a few years ago ever since then i have just been hooked. By god thats some voice simon gallaher and helen donaldson have. my gran didnt think it was actually him singing at the bit where he does all the vocal gymnastics.
For the Record, I played the Pirate King in my High School Play about a year ago and used about 60% of my act from these videos! 100 of the views of all the Pirates of Penzance videos you've got up probably came from my acting troop. This guy is just that awesome! Thanks for putting them up ... even though it was like 5 years ago, I still watch them today!
One of my favorite plays of all, I never seen it like this. I wish they played this in Greenville, SC. I love the comedy and OMG is the pirate king hot.
The Pirates of Penzance was performed at Alleyne's Grammar School, Stevenage just before I left in 1951. it was a brilliant performance, thanks to George Partridge. An amazing music teacher and an ex. pupil of the same school.
I so thoroughly enjoyed seeing this 'again' but with the knowing legend, Jon English is no longer here with us! My goodness, what a legacy he left us! I watch this over and over and want more - I want him to be alive again -but that's ridiculous! I reckon D'Oyly Carte would love him too!
This has gotta be the best version ever! ... I remember doing Pirates Of Penzance with my local musical drama society back in April or May 2012 .. If people thought it was boiling hot outside, it was a hell of a lot hotter on stage! The show was bloody brilliant to do! I would LOVE to be in it again! :D
This is awesome! i grew up on this musical and this version has GOT to be my favourite!!!!!! i have no idea how they keep going!!!! i love the finale also! i also never get sick on it! its often on repeat! i walked in to a pole while i was singing this song i was getting soo into it! love how he tells everyone to shut up because they haven't finished yet! thanks for putting on here!
I knew that sounded familiar!!! I looked it up and found that HMS Pinafore had been mentioned on on Star Trek Insurrection like I had thought. I should have known it was a real play. Those writers always did that. I read the plot of the play and laughed at it's outcome. I hope to see it one day. Thanks for introducing me to it. ~Annie
That was awesome ^^ I love Pirates of Penzance ever since I was able to be in my high school's production of it. This is my absolute favorite song Thanks for uploading!
From the look of it, he seems to be getting more comfortable with the audience, (which he now has in the palm of his hand,) by being a bit playfully raunchy. It seems that pirates & rock-stars actually would behave in a similar way, so he could give the people a bit of that familiar modern touch of rock without breaking character or appearing anachronistic at all! Theatrical genius!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the greatest operettas ever written…
Truly, these are the stealthiest pirates to have ever lived.
for sure
"That's got to be the stealthiest band of pirates I've ever seen..."
"So it would seem..."
I adore this performance of it because it's absolutely insane.
This is a comment you forgot about
"We haven't finished yet!" A repeated line that gets me gasping for breath EVERY single time!!!
Well done Jon!
U still alive ?
@@ijustcommenthere817 What?
you know, dropping the tools on the guy's foot (and the resulting scream) was a nice touch
Makes me cackle every time.
I really love this version. This is one of the reasons why that this Penzance is the most fun production I've ever witnessed. Not just because they don't follow the traditional norm, but also because they have a HELL OF A LOT OF FUN doing those high kicks. That was a lot of fun.
Our D&D group used to joke about bards using their inspiration on stealth checks with a “Song of Sneaking”. I never once thought I’d ever hear it until today…
Such a sadistic conductor! This has to be my favourite version of Pirates; it's certainly one of the most memorable.
i can watch this a thousand times and still get as filled up with excitment as the first time i saw it! IT IS BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!
_With cat-like tread_ **STOMP**
_Upon our prey we steal_ **STOMP**
_In silence dread_ **shh!**
_Our cautious way we feel_ **STOMP**
My goodness.
When I was a pirate in this play, we were exhausted by the end of this song.
I can't imagine doing the finale of the song 4 more times!
Serious props here.
:)
John English will always be one of my favorite Pirate Kings.
This is the best live show I've seen. What a bunch of silly buggers!!!
The merciless conductor is one of the best parts.
"We don't say a word, a fly's footfall could be distinctly heard." Perfect!
Jon English. A total Pro.
Yeah this group really seems to be enjoying themselves while doing this song, I have to give them two thumbs up. The Pirates of penzance has been and is still probally one of the my most favorite stage shows ever.
I can't help but think, Gilbert & Sullivan would have Thoroughly Approved of this performance, of their musical ! It captures the spirit of the thing, to a T !
The world's loudest sneak attack.
“Sokka, sneak attacks don't work if you yell it out loud.”
Nominated for best video on RUclips
My FAVOURITE song of this whole show, it shows me the art of true performance when one has really captured the crowd's unbridled enthusiasm. Happy 60th, Jon English!
The look on his face at each encore is hilarious!
I saw this live back in the 80’s and it was absolutely marvellous. They had the audience on their feet clapping and crying and laughing and screaming, it was truely wonderful. I played one of General Stanley’s daughters in my first ever musical when I was 12 and have loved it ever since. RIP John English, apparently his understudy only filled in for John the once and was much shorter than John and so the pirate boots came up to his armpits,
Many years ago we got free tickets from a friend in the business to the first night of an earlier version of this production. It was huge fun. Jon English was over the top in everything (of course) and Simon Gallaher was a terrific romantic lead. He had fun with it too. The Fabulous Singlettes were fabulous. The modern major general was great and Mabel was very sweet. She could sing, too. The police were just as they should be. It was a wonderful production. Best night out ever.
I've just started to listen again. This Mabel, Helen Donaldson, is superb.
Rest in Peace Jon English, you will never be forgotten.
Jon beautifully stole every scene he was in lol. amazing
I kind of want this to go on forever
I completely agree. This was the first version I saw too, and I think that it'll be my favourite for the rest of my life.
Such a giant talent, thank you for all the joy you gave us, R.I,P. Jon.
RIP Jon English, you will always be the King of Pirate Kings.
I never get tired of watching this brilliant production, I cannot watch any other company now, nothing compares to Jon English as the Pirate King.....he is great !!!!!
This is always the best song that gets the audience riled up into a craze
That was incredible!! *That* is taking the comedy of a G&S show and just running mad with it. Absolutely brilliant! And you can tell how much fun the performers had doing it, which makes it even more fun to watch. :0) This whole production looks like it was fantastic! Wonderful job!
Id love to see this show live i bet its a riot.
Jon English is superb. Best Pirate King ever.
When I was in college they did a production of this, and when he said "center bit" they just held up a big question mark. This was well before Google, or the Internet, existed.
Just for kicks, I finally got around to looking this up. Google says it means "a tool for boring cylindrical holes." I think the joke writes itself.
Yeah but what are Silent Matches?
Matches that don't hiss when lit.
I am pirate king and I love the way John English does his role. It really inspires me so much
The loudest song in the world about being quiet.
Amber Maber one of my friends described this song to me as about the "the world's loudest stealth attack."
You dont say!
Well thank god you were here to enlighten us sir. Man we all would have been so lost.
It is Gilbert and Sullivan's nod as to just how inappropriate some opera music can be for the plot. For example in Verdi's Rigoletto, a group of men are about to abduct a girl in the dead of night and decide to sing in chorus 'quietly, quietly' (zitti, zitti).
It's Gilbert and Sullivan, my friends. COMIC Opera. Often we know it's story lines are completely absurd but it's Gilbert and Sullivan, bless them
JOn English is f****** amazing....as is this production.....the "tippeetoe" sneak across the stage is wonderful.....I absolutly love this !!
My love of musicals coincides somewhere around here ,watching Jon English as the Pirate King as a kid. This whole production was great, fantastic cast overall, and some great touches to update it and keep it accessible while still sustaining the beating heart of G&S's intent. Mikado and Pinafore were also great, but here is where it started.
Thanks Jon. One of the most versatile and consistently excellent performers Australia has ever produced. I'm going to be binge watching these Essgee productions for the next week if anyone needs me.
+imjustsomeguy72 ditto!
Oh Lord thank you!
I watch this every night. I love it. The whole show is ace.
Absolutely amazing! Jon English is excellent in this role. :) I can't believe he was able to do so many encores! Guess that proves what an amazing actor he is. :)
Remember seeing this production when it came to Perth. what a fantastic performance had tears running down my face watching this part of the show. My stomach hurt for about 3 days afterwards from laughing so much. Jon English fantastic love the purple pants. They came back to Perth about 2 years later and went again with same reaction
I was lucky enough to see these guys. It was fabulous!
They missed the all important, "Away!" I've seen this so many, many times. Love it so much. Dear Pirate King, I love your purple pants. Meet me at the...
awesome performance which I had the pleasure to see live with my children, something which has and will stick in their minds for ever as a treasured memory, Jon English was a total legend long may his memory live
I took my children too, and it was fabulous, I’m so glad I have the lovely memories of that night.
They loved it.
Jon English was superb, and Simon Gallagher too.
Rest In Peace dear John.
Yes all these years later even though the kids have all left home and I’m old now, I still think of it. Wonderful!
i love this song! i was lucky enough to tour on this show several times. This is my fav song next to pirate king and when the foeman. I miss all these guys and girls!
this is amazing. the new york gilbert and sullivan players just did this at my school today and our choir was in it. i really like this version though. it's great!
I saw this twice in 1984 and 1985 - the BEST production and cast of this fabulous stage production RIP Jon
I love how he (Jon English) would tear open his shirt and show his bare chest. Yes, I've seen this production, also, met the man in the flesh. He "ripped" his shirt open in front of myself and my twin sister after the show.
My God, this is amazing!
2016 has literally been the worst year... R.I.P Jon English :(
too right the grim reaper has the famous on his kill list
So Sad Jon Was And Still Is Great Actor His Performance In This Is Funny And Energetic And He Has A Beautiful Voice
Oh dear child, you haven’t seen anything yet.
YOUNG ME HAD HOPE FOR THE COMING YEARS
No matter how bad things are, they can always get worse.
Jon English was fantastic in this. We will miss him.
"Away"......was the important dialogue
I remember going and see this twice!!!!!!
I got to meet Jon after the show at the State Theatre AND I got to hold his wine glass whilst he signed my programme.
Such a fun and energetic production!!!!!
i remember seeing this performance when i was about 8 or so, my mum n step dad took me and i loved it
I've seen the whole show on Sky Arts but this is my favourite song, I am full of admiration for the effort Jon English puts into it
I've always loved this. I was in a school production in '74 and saw the 80's production with Jon English and Marina Prior. It was awesome. And don't knock the man he's fab. Should have seen him in the 70's in his lace up leather pants!
I never get tired of this show. I've been in it at school, seen countless different productions of it. But I still want to see something professional like this awesomeness. With Jon English and all.
I love how he looks knackered at 3:15 and they've only just begun ;) r.i.p
could watch the purple pants all day long
Rip Jon. Just loved your performance here. Sad loss
how can anyone dislike this? And how does Jon English keep on doing it.....again and again.....
Absolutely Brilliant performance, thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it, really entertaining Loved this song best of all. The encores were so funny, I keep watching it over again.
whoo hoo!!! i love Jon!!! I have all the g & s trilogy on dvd ( 2 copies) cos i have worn one out!!! I would dearly love it to grace the stage again. Saw this show 20 odd times live. LOVE IT!
I know what you mean. I was 13 when I saw this but I was lucky enough to see this show in person. Trust me when I say it is way more awesome live. ^_^
I love this production of Pirates of Penzance! I saw it in Melbourne back in 1994 (or thereabouts) and this song was one of my favourites! I have it on video too (plus the other 2 shows which I also saw live - The Mikado and HMS Pinafore, both featuring Jon English and Simon Gallaher). Awesome stuff - there's nothing like a live show!
Go Jon! You rock! (hehe - I still love those purple pants!).
wow this show whould be a riot to watch live.
this the best version of cat like tread ever infact the best song ive ever heard
I luv them soooo much they are all just amazing. this one is my favourite song. I saw it on sky arts a few years ago ever since then i have just been hooked. By god thats some voice simon gallaher and helen donaldson have. my gran didnt think it was actually him singing at the bit where he does all the vocal gymnastics.
this was even better in real life! (after working on the show for years i still love it!)
For the Record, I played the Pirate King in my High School Play about a year ago and used about 60% of my act from these videos! 100 of the views of all the Pirates of Penzance videos you've got up probably came from my acting troop. This guy is just that awesome! Thanks for putting them up ... even though it was like 5 years ago, I still watch them today!
One of my favorite plays of all, I never seen it like this. I wish they played this in Greenville, SC. I love the comedy and OMG is the pirate king hot.
The Pirates of Penzance was performed at Alleyne's Grammar School, Stevenage just before I left in 1951. it was a brilliant performance, thanks to George Partridge. An amazing music teacher and an ex. pupil of the same school.
Pirates rule the seas, have festivals, and musicals, not a single ninja has anything like this!! Long live PIRATES!!!
I so thoroughly enjoyed seeing this 'again' but with the knowing legend, Jon English is no longer here with us! My goodness, what a legacy he left us!
I watch this over and over and want more - I want him to be alive again -but that's ridiculous! I reckon D'Oyly Carte would love him too!
This has gotta be the best version ever! ... I remember doing Pirates Of Penzance with my local musical drama society back in April or May 2012 .. If people thought it was boiling hot outside, it was a hell of a lot hotter on stage! The show was bloody brilliant to do! I would LOVE to be in it again! :D
What can you say? Fantastic!! I love those purple pants! :) How they managed that FOUR times I can't imagine!
If they can do it FOUR times, how about EIGHT?!
My beat friend played this character in my high school's production of this play! He was AMAZING!! This brings me back to a few months ago!
This is awesome! i grew up on this musical and this version has GOT to be my favourite!!!!!! i have no idea how they keep going!!!! i love the finale also! i also never get sick on it! its often on repeat! i walked in to a pole while i was singing this song i was getting soo into it! love how he tells everyone to shut up because they haven't finished yet! thanks for putting on here!
I knew that sounded familiar!!! I looked it up and found that HMS Pinafore had been mentioned on on Star Trek Insurrection like I had thought. I should have known it was a real play. Those writers always did that. I read the plot of the play and laughed at it's outcome. I hope to see it one day. Thanks for introducing me to it. ~Annie
Vale JE........never forgotten as THE BEST Pirate King EVER!!!
One of my FAVORITE theatrical moments!
Just wonderful!
in 2012 in my high school we went to the florida state thespian festival with this. only the best of times!
never thought i would watch G &s but bloody hell go for it jon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aww, it cut of 'away'. I wanted to hear the very important dialogue.
my school did this play when i was in 7th grade which was like 3 years ago and this was my fav song
I like this conductor, he's a funny man!
That was awesome ^^ I love Pirates of Penzance ever since I was able to be in my high school's production of it. This is my absolute favorite song Thanks for uploading!
this song got stuck in my head!! i love it tho!!! an amazing musical for all.
It's called the 80s. EVERYTHING was done with a synthesizer. Artistic license. Live with it.
From the look of it, he seems to be getting more comfortable with the audience, (which he now has in the palm of his hand,) by being a bit playfully raunchy. It seems that pirates & rock-stars actually would behave in a similar way, so he could give the people a bit of that familiar modern touch of rock without breaking character or appearing anachronistic at all! Theatrical genius!
Wow!! I wish I had seen this show. Too all who took part Very well done, G&S would be proud. Cheers
Those guys can step perfectly to this silly hornpipe! Good going!
Awe, poot Jon English! I wanna hug him better. I hope this is still available in the ABC shop, I want it!
wow! that was really amazing rendition! a great piece of Sir Arthur Sullivan...
incredible! :-) beautiful.work.
WE NEVER HEARD THE VERY IMPORTANT DIALOGUE!!!11one
I could watch this production of the pirates of penzance a million times, it never gets old :P
Love this song definately my favourite in Pirates