5th August 2002
Went
into Upper Buxton today to pick up a few essentials and called in at Safeway
where we had lunch. The rest of the
day was spent sunning ourselves and then at 7 we went round for Romy and Alan
and off to the theatre.
Trinity
Methodist G&S Society
Patience
As
we entered the Opera House we were greeted with an ethereal scene on stage - the
was a dimly lit "gazebo" with castle like pinnacles on top located
centre stage - a walkway went off to the left and the right - everything was
white and in front was a gauze - onto this was projected, from the rear so it
was displayed both on the gauze and on the stage in front of it, three groups of
three white flowers. This was
cleverly done because as they revolved they also remained upright - very
cunning!
The
overture was well played and then the lights behind the gauze went out and in
the darkness the "love sick maidens" came on ready for the lights to
come up and the gauze be lifted at the start of the opening chorus.
The stage was just the items mentioned above with plain white drapes at
the sides. There were some clever
lighting effects during the production but overall I thought that too often
actors were left in the dark. The
maidens were well costumed and gave a good clear rendition of the opening
chorus.
Patience
entered through the gazebo - she had a delightful voice with good diction,
despite the accent which she kept well throughout the production even if it did
- as David Turner put it come from "several of our counties"
Patience
was very confused about all this "love" thing and sang a good solo
"I can not tell what this love may be"
The
dragoons came on and what a smart group they turned out to be - excellent
costumes and well disciplined. The
lighting was better during this number as they announced that they were
"The Soldiers of our Queen" The Colonel did an excellent solo with
great gusto and confidence. There was good interaction between the soldiers and
the maidens (to whom they had all been betrothed) Bunthorne was excellent and was totally into the role - he reveled
in the adoration of the maidens. Lady
Jane was excellent - although I tended to agree with the adjudicator that she
was far too attractive for the part! A
little more makeup would have helped her character?
She had good interaction with the soldiers especially as she suggested an
alternative uniform which would at least be middle English!
The
Colonel sang a good song with excellent reaction and precision movements from
his men as he told us about the time "When I first put this uniform
on".
Bunthorne
then confessed to us that he did not like being a poet and that he was in fact a
"sham" .
Patience
was very confused and sought help from Lady Angela. The latter was a very good
actor with a clear voice which carried well to the dress circle.
They had a lovely duet about the little boy that Patience had loved
"Long years ago".
Grosvenor
entered - wonderful costume and a good actor - he did seem to be nervous at the
start and his voice did not carry well. What
fun he had with Patience as she realised who he was and that they could be
married and live happily together - but then - in true Gilbertian manner - she
realised that it would not be true love because she was being selfish - so they
must split up - two lovely duets were involved.
The
finale was well done - especially Lady Jane with her cymbals.
Act
two opened - with the maidens going off - I always find this strange that they
are on at all - just to go off again! Lady
Jane remained to give us her solo explaining how she was putting on weight and
that shortly there would be too much of her - she had great fun with the cello
which she mimed well with the one in the pits and then left as it played on its
own - most amusing!
The
maidens were by now all pestering Grosvenor - they asked him to read some poetry,
which was not at all like Bunthorne's - he then sang a delightful
"Magnet" song with many of the maidens flat on the stage - really
good.
Patience
was still very confused - Bunthorne was not making her happy and she still
longed for Grosvenor - she sang an excellent "Love is a plaintive
song"
Bunthorne
meanwhile was getting fed up with Grosvenor - only Lady Jane had remained with
him - and he was not too keen on that! The
both decided that the solution would be to sort it out and be firm with
Grosvenor deciding to "Go to him and say to him".
The
three main soldiers had now decided that to get the girls back they would have
to be more like Bunthorne and Grosvenor so they came on dressed as aesthetics
with wigs and flowers - however they reveled in the fact that they had not quite
got the actions sorted out. They
were spotted by Angela and Saphir and this resulted in an excellent Quintet -
" If Saphir I choose to marry" This
was really the first time that the Duke had the chance to demonstrate his
excellent voice and diction.
Bunthorne
confronted Grosvenor who agreed to change and they sang the duet "When I go
out the door" with great energy and obvious enjoyment.
When Patience saw the change in Bunthorne she was delighted at first but
then realised that it would be selfish of her to marry him now that he was a
nice person again!!
Grosvenor
returned dressed in the loudest check suit I have ever seen - he was now very
common and Patience was delighted yet again - she could marry him now that he
was common. The maidens had all
changed into "normal" Victorian red dresses instead of the aesthetic
silks they had on previously because if it was correct for Grosvenor then it was
alright for them as well. Bunthorne
went back to Lady Jane.
It
was now time for the Duke to choose a wife - he was so rich that all the maidens
wanted to marry him - however he selected Jane as she was the least pretty -
Jane rapidly pushed away Bunthorne and went to the Duke - every one else, except
poor Bunthorne paired up for a colourful close to a well performed production.
The
two major problems with this production were the fact that too much of it was in
semi gloom and we could not see what was going on - also very little use was
made of the front of the stage where it is easiest for the audience to both see
and hear what is going on.
