FORMER artistic director John Doyle returns to the Theatre Royal with one of the actor-musician shows with which he's had hits at the Watermill Theatre since leaving York.

This one takes Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta HMS Pinafore and turns the piece into a 1940s swing musical, but with only limited success. It's all a bit dull and bland.

This is a tale of romance on the high seas on the good ship P4 as sailors, wrens and a singing trio in the Andrews Sisters mould find love, intrigue and relatives they didn't know existed. The problem is that Pinafore Swing doesn't swing as much as you dearly wish it would. The setting - which would work better in the round - seems marooned in the wide open spaces of the Theatre Royal stage, with the performers crammed onto a small acting area. They remain distant, just not connecting with the audience as much as they should. There's little sense of fun as American sailor Jack and posh Captain Joe vie for the affections of wren Jenny.

The G&S score is artfully given the swing treatment, with the eight-strong cast singing, acting and playing instruments. The performers work well enough as an ensemble but individually are little more than adequate. Only Kieran Buckeridge as Joe, who describes himself as a Noel sort of Coward, stands out from the crowd.

* Until Saturday. Tickets (01904) 623568.

Published: 21/10/2004