The Ulster Theatre Company's annual summer training course has enjoyed exceptional successes in launching its graduates into full-time artistry, and judging from the fruits of this year's labours - an all-but professional touring production with cast of 27, a superb seven-piece band and a daring adaptation of a classic - that record will certainly continue. Director Michael Poyner, MD Mark Dougherty and choreographer Anne-Marie Brady - with mentions in despatches for the splendid work of aerobic instructor Martin Wong and sound designer Patrick Dalgety - have already fashioned their raw material of young cast and dusty old script into a very, very strong contemporary musical that aspires to greatness. Indeed, there are at least eight absolutely first-rate sequences, and at least one performer with bona fide star quality. Essentially adapting Gilbert & Sullivan's subtle satire into something akin to Grease, Poyner has refreshed the piece enormously.
He could well have been even more ruthless in his recreationism. Casting Pooh-Bah as camp, Co-Co as an excitable nerd and Katisha as a dominatrix allowed the material to swing daringly (possibly too eclectically) between pantomime and Rocky Horror, but more could have been made of the Mikado character - a post-modern comment on the cult of Elvis rather than another Joseph Pharaoh, perhaps? Nevertheless, when concept, choreography and ensemble locked together in fifth gear (The Gentlemen Of Japan, The Lord High Executioner and a quite superb Short Sharp Shock), the results were magnificent. Rachel Kelly as Katisha was vocally superb; Paraic Duignan as the Executioner was likewise - and, with rare comedic skill and personality to match, quite simply stole the show.
Continues until Saturday, August 22nd, at 8 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m. To book, phone Belfast 334455.