GILES WOODFORDE on The Pirates of Penzance at the New Theatre this week

"It's rather loud," one of Oxford Operatic Society's long-standing members warned me ominously as I arrived at the New Theatre. And indeed the enthusiastic orchestra swirled up a mighty storm during the overture - the Society has chosen the Broadway version of Pirates, so gone is the normal, rather sedate selection of Sullivan's tunes.

Then it was on with the action, and innocent pirate apprentice Frederic's dalliance with his middle-aged nursemaid Ruth - a relationship that would surely be deemed "inappropriate" nowadays. Deon Adams provides a suitably innocent Frederic, singing "Oh, is there not one maiden breast" with yearning beauty. This makes a splendid contrast to Marilyn Moore's brassy Ruth, a lady who is as forward as Major General Stanley's daughter Mabel (Frankie Williams pictured with Dean Adams). His other daughters (Hannah Veale, Clare O'Donnell, and Amy Jackson) are suitably giggly, especially when Frederic finally summons up a pelvic thrust. The Major General appears not to notice this blatant display of sexuality, but soon has much more substantial matters to worry about, as with a blood-curdling whoop and roar, the pirates capture his daughters.

Although conductor Mark Denton and the band accompanied sympathetically, there's no denying that the Broadway scoring of Pirates takes away some of the lyricism of Sullivan's original score. The tempi have some of the soloists scurrying too, with Ronald Hewitt (pictured) trying manfully to cope with the multi-speed Broadway version of "I am the very model of a modern Major General". But not all Gilbert's words were clear on opening night, and that was down to the foggy amplification. I longed to hear what the soloists really sounded like, and as for the volume, I was joined in the circle after the interval by a couple who had fled, deafened they said, from the stalls.

But I've left the best till last. The production has been colourfully staged, and impressively drilled, by director Ann Robson. And the chorus sings with absolutely thrilling attack and verve - I've not heard a chorus this good since Welsh National Opera was last in town.

The Pirates of Penzance continues at the New Theatre, Oxford, tonight and tomorrow. Box office: 0844 847 1585 or online: www.NewTheatreOxford.org.uk