Oh, Better Far to Live and Die

[@ancientsgate]

KK won the Tony Award for best male lead in a Broadway musical the year this production was done. Quite an accomplishment. He's an amazing performer.

[@erpollock]

The greatest surprise - Kevin Kline can really sing! He's got a great bass-baritone. And he can move! He is constantly in motion. Brilliant performance.

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Eileen, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

[@Femmchantress]

It's amazing just how versatile of a performer Kevin Kline is. Whether he's an eccentric inventor, Nick Bottom in a Midsummer's Night Dream, or everyone's personal favorite, the rambunctious Pirate King, he always does an amazing job.

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Rachel, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

[@canajaneh]

I like when he duels with the conductor!

[@Morgana888]

I've loved Kevin Kline ever since I saw him in this play. He's wonderful. What a hunk! Even today as Belle's father in Beauty and the Beast!

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Morgan, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

[@Karthos1000]

Kevin Kline will always be the Pirate King for me.

[@rulerofthebog]

Kevin Kline was quite a dashing fellow in his day. :)

[@Shindai]

Never fails to crack me up when he starts fencing with the conductor :D

[@chvishal]

instant classic

[@windmolen00]

My theme song when I'm downloading movies or reading manga.

[@bbrock7310]

I saw this on Broadway in 1980. Kevin Kline wore purple tights, oh my! Sigh! The conductor was a woman with very long blonde hair. He didn’t duel with her, but instead he grabbed her, embraced her and boldly kissed her. It was an awesome performance and my husband and I enjoyed singing it together with glee for the next 43 years until he died last year. Wonderful memories!!❤️‍🩹

[@haroldgaffney246]

Saw him in that role on Broadway. He was GREAT

[@DCLeadboot]

Quite a cool song, that! I love G&S!

[@estellapotter9784]

my class is doing this for the spring concert!!! I am trying out for the Pirate King/Queen.

[@samuelholmes3696]

Well, did you get the part?

[@nandocuca]

Life changing!

[@lilginger8642010]

This is fun!

[@martinpatrick9915]

The film was based on the central park production with all the stars reprising their roles.

[@jasonjoyce7835]

Not all of them. The role of Ruth is taken by Angela Lansbury in the film.

[@treesny]

@@jasonjoyce7835Ruth had been played by Patricia Routledge (Central Park) and then Estelle Parsons and Kaye Ballard (Broadway).

[@martinpatrick1746]

The Central Park cast reprised their roles in the film version..God all.of them made me giggle and Tony Azito as the Sargent of police he was the most talented actor sad he died.so.young.

[@treesny]

The film cast is ALMOST identical, with one crucial difference: Patricia Routledge (Ruth) didn't stay with the show when it transferred to Broadway, then was adapted for film. With all due respect to the greatly talented actresses who played the role after her -- Estelle Parsons, Kaye Ballard & Angela Lansbury -- none of them could match her unique combination of "legit" vocal technique and peerless comedic skill.

[@roadtripmemories9171]

I loved this show; was fortunate to have seen it. However, I saw the subsequent cast. Treat Williams, Robbie Benson, and I think Maureen McGovern

[@martinpatrick9915]

Treat Williams as the Pirate King Robbie Benson as Frederick.

[@roadtripmemories9171]

@@martinpatrick9915 Correct!

[@canajaneh]

@MrSamHargreaves Of course live performances are better than film versions of plays and such like, but I have to say Linda Rondstadt's voice wasn't as good in the stage version as it was in the film (yes, I know it was all lip synced) but by the time film was made she'd had more time to work on the technique of singing opera. However, in this clip, who'd 'a thunk Kevin Kline to have had such a fabulous singing voice (having not heard it before seeing him in the film version).

[@millertj27]

This is great, but why is there such a huge difference in volume between different tracks?

[@AbbeyRoad69]

This song would be so appropriate if Pirates of Penzance were a prequel to One Piece.

[@tonybarde2572]

This is where Sailing Sailing came from

[@a24-45]

It is nerve-wracking to hear Kline straining his voice (which sounds underprepared) as he is doing here; though I appreciate that singing is not his forte. However he puts such energy into his portrayal of the Pirate King, that it's still a benchmark interpretation. I bet Jon English watched this and took notes!

[@treesny]

So did the director of that Australian production. Bits of business from this show turn up there, e.g. all the pirates dropping to the floor in terror when the Pirate King swings his sword, and Ruth smacking Frederic in the bottom with her bag when she exits at the end of their Act I duet.

[@JAMbannana]

I wanna be a pirate king yyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@arleenfackina5418]

Me too😍

[@eyalsolomon7079]

i got the pirate king in my school production, i hope i can do it as well as this!

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Eyal, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

[@SwissArmyCheese]

Miss puff as ruth.

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

It's a shame no-one remembers this movie, or anything by Gilbert & Sullivan - now everyone thinks anastrophe (changing the word order to fit the rhyme and rhythm) is an invention of that godawful _Wish_ movie that came out last year. >:(

[@GeronimoKennel]

Wow this key is way to low for him.

[@arleenfackina5418]

Jon English did a great job too😍

[@martinpatrick9915]

Yes in the Australian production.

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Arleen, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??

[@ParodyHiga]

Signature Penzance

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Twani, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus?

[@ssj2matt]

Supposedly the Popeye song was composed from this. I can see it.

[@SwissArmyCheese]

I also think that Plankton would make a better King than Crabs. And have squidward be the sergent

[@TrevorJennings-i2b]

Hello Pretty, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus?