10th August

10.30 am	Church Service
12.30 pm	Association Lunch
2.30 pm	Concert - Helen Beechinor & friends
7.30 pm	Iolanthe - The Lamplighters USA

Iolanthe

Anglo/American Production

This production had the Lamplighter's Director, Phyllis and Strephon

We had seats A23 & A24 in the Dress Circle for this performance

Opera House 7:30 pm

Due to financial constraints it was not possible for the Lamplighter Theatre Group to bring over their company for this production - however, the Director and two of the principals, Phyllis and Strephon, did come over - the rest of the cast was augmented in this country with the chorus being selected and rehearsed during the last week. Also, due to the incapacity of the proposed Lord Chancellor, Adrian Lawson (an understudy for many years to the great John Reed) this role was taken on at short notice by Patrick Dawson.

John Reed and Nikki Kerri were in the Opera House for tonight's performance - they were in the small box to the right of the Dress Circle.

The overture was well played and the tabs were lifted to reveal a delightful woodland glade. The fairies were scattered around, all curled up and asleep. They were gradually awakened and came out of their slumbers. What a delightful scene - and how dainty they all were as they moved about the stage in a well choreographed manner "Tripping hither, tripping thither" There was good interaction between the fairies and Celia, Leila and Fleta. They were all bemoaning the loss of Iolanthe.

The queen entered - what an impressive figure in a wonderful golden dress. She had the fairies all under her control from the moment she entered. She explained why she had banished Iolanthe - for marrying a mortal. Good reaction to "frogs" from the fairies.

The Queen agreed to release Iolanthe and summoned her from the stream - not many special effects had gone into this part and Iolanthe appeared from behind a bush. Iolanthe had an excellent voice but I felt that her costume did not enhance her character. All the fairies were delighted to see her and again excellent interaction between them all as Iolanthe went round and greeted them all. She explained that she had a son - called Strephon - who was in love with Phyllis.

Strephon entered - another excellent actor with a great singing voice. He greeted Iolanthe with "Good morrow, good mother" He was then introduced to all the fairies as his aunts. They all had good fun with the fact that he, unlike them, was only half a fairy. The queen suggested he better himself by going into parliament.

Phyllis joined Strephon on stage - she was very attractive and had excellent diction and a great voice. Only now and then did the American accent slip out! This couple worked really well together and sang a delightful duet "None shall part us from each other".

The peers did not make their usual entry, instead we noticed some commotion in the stalls and the peers entered from the back of the stalls - greeting members of the audience as they made their way down to the stage. They looked full of pomp as they paraded about on the stage to a well choreographed "Loudly let the trumpet bray" - one peer going back down to the orchestra pit to encourage the brass section to play even more loudly.

The Lord Chancellor came on - he was a sprightly actor with a good voice and excellent diction. He explained the situation with his wards in "The law is a true embodiment" He worked well with the peers. They were a much more active group than we usually see - taking much more notice of what was going on and reacting to it.

Mountararat returned with Phyllis and she was greeted with rapture by the peers. Both Mountararat and Tolloller had good strong voices which enable us to hear all the words clearly. Tolloller's "Spurn not the nobly born" was excellent.

Phyllis spurns them all by telling them that her heart is already given - to Strephon - who enters - the peers are heart broken and really show it! They march off very quickly but return just as quickly to hear what is going on before marching off again.

Iolanthe and Strephon are talking when the peers and Phyllis creep back on - they can not quite hear what is going on and the message passed back from those nearest becomes quite confused. It seems to them that Strephon is flirting with this young lady. The peers are utterly shocked! However hard he tries, Strephon is unable to convince them that Iolanthe is his mother - she appears to be only 17 and he is 24!!

Phyllis will not tolerate this and says that she will not marry Strephon but will give her heart to one of the peers - at this point they all become agitated again - especially Gordon who thinks he is next in line - however, she settles on one of the two richest - she does not mind which!

Strephon needs help so he summons the Queen and her fairies. He explains the situation - the Queen confirms that Iolanthe IS his mother. The peers do not believe her and the Lord Chancellor tells them to go away. The Queen is incensed and she tells the peers that Strephon will go into parliament and will take control of them all - getting his way all the time. Most of their perks will be removed as well. The fairies certainly have the upper hand now and the act comes to a resounding finale with a wonderfully choreographed and executed ensemble.

Act two opens to a scene of the Palace courtyard at Westminster. Private Willis marches on - he has a deep, sonorous voice with excellent diction. He sings an excellent "When all night long" However, I found that he had been given directions during this which made him far to active - he was dancing about, twirling his rifle and many other actions which were totally unnecessary.

The fairies came on - they were quite amazed at Willis - they sang "Strephon's a member of parliament" and were shortly joined by the peers. Mountararat and Tolloller grumbled about the effect Strephon was having on parliament - the Mountararat sang a good version of "When Britain really ruled the waves"

The fairies are now very much attracted to the peers and when the peers want to leave the fairies plead with them not to do so. They have great fun with this scene until eventually the peers do mange to break away.

The Queen returns - shocked at the fairies falling for the peers. She said that she could fall for a man and then sees Willis - as she sings "Oh, foolish fay" Willis' facial reaction is wonderful - he has such expressive eyes and could manouvre his moustache to some incredible angles.

The scene between Phyllis, Tolloller and Mountararat is well constructed as she tries to decide which of them to marry Excellent interaction between all three. A good quartet sung - again with excellent reaction as Willis does his "extra" bit.

The Lord Chancellor does a good Nightmare song and then we had a very static trio "If you go in" with very little fun being had - and no encores.

Phyllis and Strephon get back together again and sing a delightful duet "If we're weak enough to tarry" Iolanthe returns to the stage and they ask her to help them by putting in a good word with the Chancellor. She admits that he is her husband and Strephon's father. However, she will try.

She puts her veil over her face as the Chancellor approaches - it is a most moving scene as she pleads for him to give permission for Strephon to marry Phyllis. Beautiful singing from Iolanthe - what a future this young lady has!

As Iolanthe reveals that she is still alive - the wife of the Chancellor, he can not marry Phyllis. At this point the "Willahalah" comes from backstage to warn her - the Queen's voice came over the loudspeakers (I did not like this approach) - Iolanthe is to die - but the Chancellor steps in to modify the law and, once Willis has agreed to marry the Queen - and sprouted wings - all go off to fairyland to a delightful and well disciplined "Soon as we may"

I really enjoyed this performance - there were one or two minor niggles - I felt that there were too many times that the orchestra and the singers were out of sync. and the pace at times was a little slow. Some of the chorus were looking at the MD too obviously and I have already mentioned the actions of Willis in his song. The Queens voice was a little too quiet. However, overall the production was very good with some really good innovations. I liked the activity displayed by the peers - I loved the daintiness of the fairies. The movement around the stage was under control all the time and nobody ever looked lost. The costumes and lighting were very good. A most enjoyable performance