WHAT THE PRESS SAID...
CHICAGO
"A D Richardson is easily the best Mary Sunshine I have ever seen. Each line is imbued with a sense of warmth and care. It’s a role that can be notoriously difficult to sing night after night, but you get the impression that you’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg vocally at the end of the performance." - BritishTheatre.com
"Without doubt the stars of the show were A D Richardson (Mary Sunshine) whose soprano range couldn't be any more impressive..." - WestEndFrame.com
"... whilst A D Richardson is hysterically funny and on scene-dominating form trembling and mewling as surely one of the best Mary Sunshine’s the show has seen."
- amusings.co.uk
"AD Richardson as Mary Sunshine is both comically talented as well as possessing an extraordinary voice."
- Manchester Evening News
"AD Richardson as Mary Sunshine is both comically talented as well as possessing an extraordinary voice."
- Manchester Evening News
"Alan Richardson, soprano lead, is so singular, with a falsetto that you think is going to be a bit squeaky but which opens up amazingly at the top. His artistry and ornamentations in a waltz-song better than many of the operatic examples it spoofs, “Poor Wandering One”, set an example any genuine prima donna would do well to emulate. The one true moment of pathos, “Ah, leave me not to pine”, is also beautifully timed and phrased."
- The Arts Desk
"Alan Richardson, possessed of an astonishing Farinelli falsetto, despatches Mabel's coloratura runs with ease and defaults to a wonderfully infectious grin..."
- WhatsOnStage
"It was Mable however, who stole the show. Alan Richardson’s portrayal of the ‘soprano’ sister was absolutely incredible. His outstanding vocal control not only allowed musically correct but enjoyable, successful and even beautiful male renditions of difficult numbers like ‘Poor Wandering One’. For me, the success of this production of Pirate of Penzance must be hinged on the success of Mable; and Alan Richardson is a success."
- Aussie Theatre
"It was Mable however, who stole the show. Alan Richardson’s portrayal of the ‘soprano’ sister was absolutely incredible. His outstanding vocal control not only allowed musically correct but enjoyable, successful and even beautiful male renditions of difficult numbers like ‘Poor Wandering One’. For me, the success of this production of Pirate of Penzance must be hinged on the success of Mable; and Alan Richardson is a success."
- Aussie Theatre
"When Mabel makes her entrance - played by the extraordinary Alan Richardson - the whole game is raised: how on earth does a man sing such accurate coloratura, so high, and with so little apparent effort?"
- The Independent
"When Mabel makes her entrance - played by the extraordinary Alan Richardson - the whole game is raised: how on earth does a man sing such accurate coloratura, so high, and with so little apparent effort?"
- The Independent
"When Mabel makes her entrance - played by the extraordinary Alan Richardson - the whole game is raised: how on earth does a man sing such accurate coloratura, so high, and with so little apparent effort?"
- The Independent
H.M.S Pinafore
"The star, undoubtedly, is Richardson’s daughter of the waves... beautifully balanced with deft gestures between sadness and snobbery; and while some of the notes in the hard-working falsetto are inevitably squeezed, he hits the heights with the aplomb of a bravura countertenor."
- The Arts Desk
"Where this production really triumphs is in the quality of the singing. Close your eyes and you’d swear that Alan Richardson’s Josephine is in fact a superb soprano. Richardson is astonishingly good. He is completely at ease in the moments of comedy and also of tenderness the rôle requires. His deeply respectful portrayal means that the audience soon forget his gender. And his voice doesn’t even quiver as he reaches the higher notes. His performance alone is worth the ticket price."
- The Reviews Hub
"The benefits of the casting works best of all with Josephine (the object of Ralph's desire) spectacularly sung and acted by Alan Richardson, whose "Sorry her lot who loves too well" is a real showstopper."
- BroadwayWorld