Pirates! The Penzance Musical (2025) (Broadway)

David Hyde Pierce was born to play the modern major general. His straight deadpan demeanor is perfectly suited to the notorious patter song. He's funny as always. There's lots of comedic wordplay and overall the humor worked for me. The play is not the straight Pirates of Penzance you know. There's a bit of a framing device, providing context for the show's original premiere in 1879. Pierce actually plays the composer playing the modern major general. This production also integrates several songs from other Gilbert and Sullivan shows. Songs from HMS Pinafore, The Mikado and Iolanthe. There's a fun washboard number. The ending recasts "He is an Englishman" to "We're All From Someplace Else", a rousing ode to immigrants that gives the production its raison d'etre in 2025. It gives the show some meaning beyond the loony plot. 

PS. the subtitle of the show is "The Slave of Duty" and in some ways that's about dharma, isn't it?