Showing @ Festival Theatre, Edinburgh until Sat 01 Jun

Like his fellow late Victorian moustache enthusiast and namesake Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Sullivan wanted nothing more than to be remembered for his serious work. Posterity and public taste has insisted however, that his lasting legacy is the work he created with W S Gilbert. With their hummable tunes, vertiginous wordplay, ludicrous plots and light satirical take on their times they’ve continued to amuse and entertain audiences for nearly 140 years. There something in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas that we don’t often associate with the Victorians and that’s a sense of silliness and after a season of dark dramas such as Werther and The Flying Dutchman, Scottish Opera in association with D’Oyly Carte, have grasped the opportunity to finish their 50th year celebrations by being very silly indeed.

There’s a wonderful sense of play here, from Martin Lloyd-Evans’ direction to Jamie Vartan’s witty sets through to Steve Elias’ choreographed clowning, everyone involved appears to be having a good time and it transfers to the audience. Gilbert and Sullivan operas always offer great scope for the chorus and choral director James Grossmith has made sure to instil plenty of piratical gusto into their performances. Of the soloists Nicolas Sharrat gives a fine rendition as the rigid and romantic Frederic and Steven Page’s Pirate King has a booming baritone and delightful glint in his eye to match the one from his sword. Rosie Aldridge offers a twinkly and saucy turn as the lovelorn nursemaid Ruth and Richard Suart’s Major General, whilst lacking a little power behind the famous song still provides a highly enjoyable and superbly timed comic performance. The two standouts performances are Stephanie Corley as Mabel, blending coyness and middle class grit with a mezzo voice you long to hear in meatier roles and Graeme Broadbent as the Sergeant of Police channelling both John Cleese and Groucho Marx in his portrayal of the cowardly copper. Scottish Opera have had a busy year not to mention the previous forty-nine and they’re clearly enjoying this chance to let their hair down and if you go along so will you.