The opening production of the 14th International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival.
With excited anticipation we went down into Buxton for the first of this year's operettas in the Opera House. It was the international premier of Carl Rosa's production of The Yeomen of the Guard. There was a buzz in the Opera House as the audience met up again with friends from previous festivals. Ian Smith welcomed us all and, along with the usual plugs for the raffle and what was on next day, he introduced this evening's production. The Carl Rosa company had been formed at about the same time as the International G&S Festival started and it was a tribute to their founder Peter Mulloy that it was now such a success. They have had full scale professional tours of the UK, USA, Canada and Australia with exciting productions of Gilbert & Sullivan.
This evening's production started with a lively overture and then the tabs were lifted to reveal a set depicting the Tower of London. There was a house/inn to the left with a door. To the right were twin towers with an archway between them - to the rear the backcloth was an image of the tower itself. In the centre was a raised block containing the executioner's block. Phoebe was on stage and Dame Caruthers directed her to the spinning wheel - she went to it reluctantly and started to spin (not very successfully) as she sang her opening solo "When maiden loves....." She had a lovely clear voice with excellent projection.
Here you can see the set at the curtain call - Sergeant Meryll and Dame Caruthers centre stage.
Wilfred entered - he was a real character, although perhaps a little clean and tidy for an assistant tormentor? His diction was excellent and he had a good deep singing voice. He professed his love for Phoebe which of course she rejected as she was in love with the condemned Fairfax. Well costumed villagers were milling around and they were joined by magnificently uniformed Tower Warders in the brilliant red costumes.
Well costumed villagers were milling around and they were joined by magnificently uniformed tower Warders in the brilliant red costumes. They marched in singing the chorus "Tower Warders". Dame Caruthers was a large elderly lady - she had a good acting voice but I did not like her singing voice - it had a very obvious break between the upper and lower registers. Also the diction was not clear when she was singing. When she was speaking she was very good and had a very domineering attitude to those around her.
Sergeant Meryll had an excellent singing voice and his diction was superb - he had great fun as he discussed Fairfax with Phoebe. They were hoping that a reprieve might come before he was executed.
The Sergeant then sang the often cut solo - "A laughing boy but yesterday" - I like this song and appreciated it's inclusion.
His son Leonard entered - unfortunately he was not really up to the part - he seemed to lack confidence and his voice was not well projected. They plot to get Fairfax out and let him take the place of Leonard who was to join the Warders. Phoebe is to get the key from Wilfred. They sing the trio "Alas I waver..."
The Lieutenant of the Tower entered followed by Fairfax and two guards. The Lieutenant was one of the stars of this production - he had just the right approach - he was secure in his role - he was the boss and woe betide anyone who did not do as he was told. He had a good clear voice and excellent diction. Fairfax was also very good - excellent singing voice and a good actor - however I did find his beard (or really lack of it as it was less than a "five o'clock shadow") did not help in the transformation from Fairfax to Leonard. He sang a good "Is life a boon..." and then plotted with the Lieutenant to find him a bride before his execution to enable him to prevent his unscrupulous cousin from inheriting his estate.
The mood changes and the villagers come on hassling Point and Elsie as they sing "Here's a man of jollity" Really good interaction here - the crowd are very menacing and Elsie looks terrified. Point gets out of the situation by offering to dance and sing for them - they sing and excellent duet - "I have a song to sing O!" Point is very good - although a little too old for Elsie! More like her Grandfather than her suitor. He plays the part like a Cockney comedian (Max Miller for those of us old enough to know) His voice is clear and his diction excellent. Elsie has a super voice - very pure and strong - although at times I did have trouble with hearing the words. She was wearing a terrible wig! They have great fun with the song but at the end a couple of the villagers start to cause trouble again - Elsie draws her knife to protect herself and Jack is about to be beaten up when the Lieutenant and Wilfred arrive - The crowd are cleared away by Wilfred - usually this is done by the Warders but as all the other men have changed into "villagers" to swell the population Wilfred is the only one left - It did look rather strange.
Elsie explains why they are there and when he realises that she needs money the Lieutenant suggests that she marry Fairfax for the few hours he has left- After some consideration they agree, they sing an excellent trio "How say you, maiden..." and Elsie is led off in a blindfold.
Jack realises that there might be a job with the Lieutenant and tries to persuade him by singing "I've jibe and joke" After much banter the Lieutenant agrees to give him a trial as his jester.
Elsie returns - she is now married - she sings and wonderful "'Tis done! I am a bride"
Wilfred, Phoebe and Meryll have great fun as she flirts and gets the keys from Wilfred - the singing of "Were I thy Bride" is really well done with just the right amount of flirting and apprehension about the keys.
Fairfax enters - now in Warders uniform - as I mentioned earlier the disguise of shaving off a non existent beard would confuse people seeing the production for the first time - There was hardly any difference in appearance - he could at least have had a moustache earlier on which could have been removed? Still there must be some reason??? The introduction to the other warders is well done - Fairfax being very confused about the exploits he is supposed to have done. Good interaction when Phoebe comes on - especially from Wilfred as he "allows" Fairfax to hug her.
The mood changes as the expected execution draws near - but suddenly they realise that Fairfax has escaped - The lieutenant is furious and Wilfred is bound up to take his place - excellent movement about the stage as panic sets in to end the first act.
Act two opens as the women admonish the warders for being so useless. As the stage clears we are left with Point and Wilfred. After a bit of banter Point sings a good song "Oh! a private buffoon..." He and Wilfred plot to pretend that they have killed Fairfax - so that Elsie will be free and able to marry Point.
Fairfax bemoans his lot - he is free from prison but locked into a marriage and does not know to whom? He sings an excellent rendition of "Free from his fetters grim-" However Dame Caruthers explains that whilst Elsie was sleeping she had been overheard to say that she had been married ... one hundred crowns.... will die in an hour... They then sing a poor rendition of the Quartet "Strange adventure!" going sharp during each verse so that when the orchestra came in it was awful.
Fairfax tests Elsie's loyalty by flirting with her as Leonard - she rejects him.
We are all shaken out of our shoes by an enormous bang as the arquebus goes off - I have seen many productions of Yeomen - I know it is going to happen but always forget and tonight was no exception. The chorus rush on - this was one of the annoying parts of this production - the chorus were constantly rushing on and off as if they were trying to catch a tube in central London - not much subtlety here
Wilfred and Jack enter and explain, with much arguing, that they have just killed Fairfax - Wilfred is now a hero!
Fairfax offers to show Jack how to woo a girl - he does so as they sing a delightful "A man who would woo a fair maid" Elsie falls for him and Point is shattered - as is Phoebe - they all sing "When a wooer goes a-wooing" Phoebe is so angry that when Wilfred enters she lets it slip that she is in love with Fairfax - who is her "brother" - she agrees to marry him (eventually) if he keeps quiet........ She is explaining this to her father (Sgt Meryll) and is overheard by Dame Caruthers - she offers the same deal to the Sergeant.
Elsie arrives in her bridal gown ready to marry "Leonard" however, the Lieutenant tells her that her husband Fairfax is still alive, has been pardoned and come to claim her as his bride. Eventually she realises that "Leonard" and Fairfax are the same and all is about to end happily ever after when Jack returns - he is broken hearted and sings a moving rendition of "I have a song to sing O!" eventually he becomes more and more distraught - in a twist to the usual ending the Lieutenant gestures to the Warders who encircle Point keeping him away from Fairfax and Elsie - he collapses at the front of the stage to bring the operetta to a close.
This was not the best production of Yeomen I have seen! There were too many errors, to many times the MD was unsympathetic to the singers - especially with the timing in chorus numbers. Some of the main characters lacked good singing voices and/or clear diction. The costumes were good as were the props and the lighting. Overall I was a little disappointed - it was the standard of a very good amateur production but fell below that I would have expected from a fully professional company. I realise that it was the first time they had performed this operetta but that is no excuse for some of the terrible timing errors between the chorus and the orchestra - the MD could and should have been able to correct these as they occurred. The chorus were generally good although some of the stage directions they had to carry out were not too smart - especially the entrances and exits - some of which seemed like a rugby scrum. Some of the actors messed up their dialogue and, although usually well hidden, it should not occur at this level. From reports I received of the Sunday performance this was much better.
Peter Mulloy
