Patience - The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company
The overture was played at a really brisk pace - it was excellent - this MD certainly had the members of the orchestra under his full control.
The tabs were lifted to reveal a good set - there was a "ruined" building consisting of five large columns with a top. this was in an arrow shape pointing out towards the audience - at the point of the arrow was a large seat, festooned with lilies. To the right of the front of the stage was a little raised section and there was a bench to the left. The backcloth depicted the rest of the castle in the distance. The lovesick maidens were all taking up aesthetic poses - it made a colourful start. The maidens had lovely flowing dresses and excellent wigs and makeup. How well they sang the opening chorus as they expressed their love for Bunthorne. I was a little disappointed with Lady Ella - she did not seem to have the confidence of the others and her solo part was not very good.
Jane entered - what a superb character and what a lovely voice. She admonished the girls and told them that they were wasting their time as Bunthorne only had eyes for Patience. Patience came on - what a star! She was a delightful character - a superb actress with a wonderful voice - she soared into her high notes without any apparent effort whatsoever. She moved lightly over the stage and her first song "I cannot tell what this love may be" set the tone for the rest of the operetta.
Lady Jane, Grosvenor and Patience
To distinguish her lowly roots she had a "common" accent - from the north of England - as someone from Lancashire I object to this stereotype ;-) She kept this up with great skill all through the production.
The Dragoon Guards marched on - they were well disciplined and sang well - however I did find that the ill fitting uniform jackets looked a mess - some time could have been spent on making them fit the individuals - the Duke's was especially poor as he was very tall and needed a large size but he was also very slim and it hung around him like a sack.
The three main Dragoons were super - especially the Colonel who gave a confident approach to the song " If you want a receipt... " His diction was excellent and every word of this difficult piece came over to the dress circle most clearly.
The Duke entered and after some fun with the "toffee" section he sang the song "Though men of rank..." This was the first time I had hear it in a live performance. According to Bradley it is printed in the licence copy and bound in at the back of the autograph score having been torn out of its original position. The tune for this song had to be guessed as the melodic line had disappeared and only the accompaniment was available. Oliver sang it well but I can understand why Gilbert had it cut!
Grosvenor, Patience, Bunthorne and Lady Angela
Bunthorne entered to much admiration from the maidens and disgust from the dragoons. He was wearing a sage green velvet suit and was carrying his note book and a quill pen (which never seemed to run out???) Good interaction as they all sang with him. Bunthorne read them his poem "Hollow" which Patience though was "nonsense". Jane criticised the uniform worn by the Dragoons saying that it should be Early English. The Colonel responded with a magnificent rendition of "When I first put this uniform on"
Bunthorne returned and admitted to us that he was a poetic sham and sang a great "If your anxious for to shine..." He is a wonderful actor - every word comes over to perfection and the expressions on his face are super. Patience come on and they have great fun as she tries to escape from him.
Angela and Patience sing a lovely duet "Long years ago..." Then Patience decides it is time for her to fall in love and along comes Grosvenor. He has a great baritone voice which he demonstrates to its full potential as they sing "Prithee, pretty maiden" . Patience falls for him but - horror - to love him would be wrong as he is so perfect - it would be selfish and love should be unselfish...........
Bunthorne decides to auction himself off - they have great fun as the tickets are sold - despite the protestations of the dragoons - The duke sings a particularly plaintive "Your maiden hearts" with good response from the other dragoons.
Jane comes on to buy a ticket and just as the draw is about to take place Patience rushes on to say she will marry him. A lovely sestet as Angela, Saphir, Ella, the Colonel, Duke and Major sing "I hear the soft note".
Grosvenor enters - how he fancies himself - he is spotted by the girls and they all leave the Dragoons and rush to him. The act closes with a rousing chorus.
The second act set
For act two there has been a subtle change in the set - The columns have now been moved so that they point away from the front of the stage - the square area which is now left is blocked round to form a pool. There is a small semicircle of ruin at the front left and a nude male statue looking towards the rear of the stage on the right. There is a black gauze between the front of the stage and the rear. Lady Jane is at the front with the semicircular ruin and the statue. The maidens are posing behind the gauze along with Grosvenor. Jane sings her solo "Silvered is the raven hair." She has great fun with the cello which she plays with gusto - towards the end of her song she moves over to the statue and ends up playing that with her bow - most amusing. She leaves the stage and the gauze lifts and the maidens and Grosvenor come to life. The girls all have long black cloaks around them and all of a sudden they remove them to reveal Victorian era swimming costumes?????? Although this was quite funny I did not think it was appropriate - it added nothing to the story or plot. I can see the funny part later on when Bunthorne has his swimming costume on and he and Jane have some humourous moments with the statue and water, but for the girls to do it was, in my opinion, just unnecessary.
They are all infatuated with him and plead with him to read to them - at first he is reluctant but then, when he finds out that Bunthorne did so, decides to do so. His poems are much more down to earth and the maidens join in with them. He sings an excellent "A magnet hung..."
Grosvenor andPatience
Patience has good fun as she admonishes Grosvenor over his approaches to her when she is already promised to Bunthorne. But she still wants him to love her..... Patience sings a wonderful "Love is a plaintive thing" Her voice is so pure and as mentioned before she soars without any apparent effort.
Bunthorne enters wearing a swimming costume and a large straw sun hat. He places the hat at front of the statue (hidden from us) and is amazed at the fact that it hangs there - his glances at it are wonderful. As they speak the dialogue he and Jane have fun round the "pool" which results in them splashing each other and then eventually Bunthorne falls right in - rushing off stage - gathering his hat to cover his predicament.
The Colonel, Major and Duke enter - they have dressed as aesthetics in velvet suits and with long black wigs. They carry out the usual poses and gyrations as they try to become part of the "brotherhood" Again we have a semi strip down to swimming costumes - why???? Angela and Saphir come on and are most impressed with the efforts of the Dragoons. As they sing the quintet "If Saphir I choose to marry" They pass two beach balls between them to indicate who is to marry. Again I though this distracted and could well have been left out.
Bunthorne confronts Grosvenor and they have good fun with the dialogue and songs - some very skillful movement around the pool as they sing! Eventually Grosvenor decides to give in and change. Bunthorne decides to become a better person as well - as Patience enters she finds him all happy and sweet - at first she is pleased but realises that he is now too perfect for her and that she can no longer marry him. Just in time Grosvenor returns - all common! All the girls have also changed into Victorian day wear - Patience realises that she can marry Grosvenor now as he is common! The dragoons return and the Duke sings another song which I had not heard before - "I have a goodly prize to give away." He selects Jane to be his bride. The girls go back to the Dragoons. Bunthorne is left alone with his lily.
Lady Angela, The Colonel and the Major
An excellent production - full of vitality and movement. The singing was superb. All the principals were very good - especially Lady Jane, Bunthorne and Patience. The lighting was great - it was always very subtle changes - you suddenly realised that there had been a change but hardly ever spotted it happening. It did much to enhance the production. The set was really well used and the different levels enhanced the arrangements possible to the director. At all time the orchestra was sympathetic to the singers and on the odd occasion that the timing was not together it was skillfully brought together again by the MD.
Patience, Bunthorne and Lady Angela
Overall an excellent production - I loved hearing the "new" songs. About the only things I did not like were the swimming costumes.
