A day which started off with heavy rain - eased a bit in the afternoon and then was fine for the evening.
Patience
Gilbert & Sullivan Opera - Victoria - Australia
At the start of the production a suited and bearded gentleman came onto the stage - he introduced himself as Richard D'Oyly Carte. He went on to explain that at this the opening of his new theatre "The Savoy" he was introducing the illumination of the theatre with the new "Electricity" He demonstrated the difference between the gas lighting by suddenly turning on the electric lights around the circle and other areas. He then explained that there was some concern about the fire risk if one of the bulbs was broken - a colleague came on with a bulb glowing in his hands - Carte proceeded to wrap up the bulb and smash it with a hammer - the handkerchief in which he had wrapped it was not burnt in any way. We were all now convinced of the safety of this new fangled method of illumination.
The orchestra struck up into a lively rendition of the overture - the tabs were lifted to reveal an aesthetically painted gauze. As the overture progresses we could see the cast entering behind the gauze and taking their positions for the opening chorus. Once the overture had finished the gauze was lifted to reveal an interesting set - it was described as a "Park near Bunthorne's Aesthetic House - Morning" There was a white painted, columned folly to the rear of centre stage. At each side there were two representations of small walls with spherical bay trees at their ends. The back cloth was painted with a cliff containing a couple of houses to the right and some trees to the left. The main area of the backcloth was left white and this enabled some dramatic lighting effects to be created.
The "twenty" lovesick maidens were well dressed in long flowing dresses - how well they moved about the stage and what dramatic, aesthetic poses they took up as they sang the opening chorus "Twenty love-sick maidens, we" Good singing from the soloists Angela and Ella. How they all moped for Bunthorne and the hope that he might fall for them. Lady Jane entered - she was to prove to be the star of the show, in my opinion. How she admonished the others as she told them that they stood no chance - Bunthorne was in love with Patience - the village milkmaid. Excellent reaction from all in this dialogue. Patience entered - she was a delightful character - full of energy and with a wonderful voice. How well she soared to the high notes without any apparent effort. She was wearing a lovely dress - mainly gold in colour. I did think that, although the dress was lovely, it was perhaps not what would be worn by a village milkmaid - it was far too fancy - the only part which was in keeping with her job was a white hat. She sang a super song "I cannot tell what this love may be".
The dragoons came on - not a very crisp entrance - more of a stroll on. They had good uniforms which seemed to fit all pretty well. As they marched in they sang the second chorus of "The soldiers of our queen" This is not often sung as it was in the original clerical version which Gilbert penned for this operetta and cut from the final version for Patience. The Colonel was a large, imposing character and he made a good effort at his "patter" song "If you want a receipt for that popular mystery". I did not feel that he was fully confident in his role but then again it is a very difficult song. The other dragoons reacted well if a little sloppy at times with their actions.
The Duke came on - he had a great voice with very good diction - he had good fun as he bemoaned his lot for being so rich and upper crust. Again we had a little extra in the fact that the Duke sang the usually cut song "Though men of rank may useless seem". I think this is a song which should always be included as it is a good tune with meaningful words and it does give the lead tenor a bit more to do ;-)
Bunthorne entered, followed closely by the adoring mass of maidens. He was a good character with lots of energy and expression. He was wearing a dark green costume and was carrying a notebook and a long feather which was acting as a quill. How the girls adored him and how the dragoons despised him. Very good singing from all as the Dragoons noted how "ridiculous" and "preposterous" all this fuss over Bunthorne really was. Bunthorne had good gun with one of the maidens - as he wrote in his book the long feather tickled her nose - causing her to let out a big sneeze - most amusing.
Bunthorne read them his poem - before he did so they had to think of lilies - how well they took up extravagant postures. Patience thought it was nonsense and told him so. Jane admonished the dragoons over their uniform - this upset the troops and the Colonel snag a good song "When I first put this uniform on"
Once the stage was cleared Bunthorne returned looking furtive. He was getting weary of the pretence that he was a true aesthetic. When Patience told him that she did not like poetry he confessed that he didn't either!
Patience and Angela sang a lovely duet "Long years ago.." This was enhanced by the appearance of a young Archibald and Patience on the other side of the stage from Angela and Patience - how well these two youngsters danced and acted. In this song we also had the original second verse which tells us that "They took my little friend away" Agin we had the two children back on stage acting out Archibald being taken away and Patience crying for him. This second verse is usually cut but again I feel it is an important addition and helps to explain why they were split up in the first place. A very moving scene - only spoilt by twice hearing the loud hiss of the apparatus used to make the atmospheric mist - surely with the modern technology available today we can get mist without it sounding like a fire extinguisher going off - perhaps a long pipe so that it can be set off at some distance from the stage?
Patience decides to fall in love and suddenly she catches sight of this vision of loveliness which is Grosvenor. Grosvenor has a super deep sonorous voice which he uses to great effect. He is a very good actor with excellent diction. They sing a super duet together - Prithee, pretty maid..." How well their voices blend together. Patience eventually recognises him as Archibald - her long lost friend. But - horror - she can not love him as he is so perfect and for love to be true it has to be unselfish........ Again another lovely duet "Though to marry you..."
Bunthorne returns, garlanded with masses of flowers and draped with the adoring maidens. They are carrying musical instruments and as they sing "Let the merry cymbals sound" Lady Jane in particular crashed her cymbals right next to Bunthorne's ear - much to his shock and annoyance. The dragoons want to know what is going on - they were once all engaged to the maidens. The Duke sings a good solo as he tries to get the maidens to take an interest in the Dragoons by singing "Your maiden hearts.." Bunthorne has decided to make it fair and put himself up in a lottery to see who can marry him. They have great fun as the maidens get their tickets, including Jane, and then whilst they are blindfolded Bunthorne tries to get rid of Jane's ticket. Patience rushes on and stops the proceedings telling Bunthorne that she will marry him! Explaining her decision by singing "True love must single heated be"
All the maidens now realise that they have lost Bunthorne and go back to their former loves - the dragoons. The Sestet "I hear the soft note" is well sung although I did note one of the voices going off a bit! All of a sudden Grosvenor appears and once they find out he is aesthetic all the maidens rush to him. A colourful and vibrant close to the first act.
Act two opens with the maidens singing behind the gauze as they walk off. In front of the gauze Lady Jane enters with a double bass and a music stand - she places her music on the stand and then with great comic effect she proceeds to give us a recital of her recitative and song "Silvered is the raven hair" This section is a show stopper - she is so funny as she plays the instrument and delivers the words. At the end flowers are thrown up from the orchestra pit as she goes off stage.
The gauze is lifted and Grosvenor appears - still surrounded by the admiring maidens - he is tiring of the attention by now. The set is now lit to represent the evening - the little houses on the hillside have lights at their windows - a nice touch but they were a little bright at times when the ambient lighting was low and tended to distract .He reads them two of his poems and then sings an excellent "A magnet hung..." Eventually they give him a half day off ;-) Patience returns to Grosvenor and they have good fun as Grosvenor makes advances but Patience rejects him - she is promised to Bunthorne whom she despises - but that is love for you? A lovely singing of the ballad "Love is a plaintive song" by Patience. Bunthorne and Jane have good fun as they plot how to overthrow Grosvenor.
The Duke, Major and Colonel enter - dressed as aesthetics - they have great fun as the pose about trying to get the actions but failing due to their stiff military bearing. Their song is well done - "It's clear that mediaeval art.." Angela and Saphir are impressed with their efforts and all have great fun deciding who will marry? Some great movement and singing as they sing the quintet "If Saphir I choose to marry"
Bunthorne confronts Grosvenor who eventually accepts his demands that he should change - they sing an energetic duet "When I go out the door" Bunthorne has decided to give up his ill-natured attitude and he is dancing as Patience enters - they dance around together for a bit - much to Patience's glee - he has become a nice person - but Oh Horror - he is now nice so it is not right to love him (poor girl). Grosvenor returns, in a gaudy, common suit and all the maidens are following him in "normal" white dresses of the period - If "Archibald the Alright" has given up Aestheticism then it is alright for them to do so as well. Patience is at first shocked but then realises that as he is so common it will be alright for her to love him. It is very clever how his accent has become "Australian" and he uses terms like "My chucks have turned to Emus and kicked down the dunny door" lots of "strewth", "Shielas" and mentions of "Pommies" - it is even funnier when you remember that the actor playing Grosvenor is the only non-Australian principal.
All ends well as the Duke selects Lady Jane to be his bride - he does this using the alternative version in which the words are sung by the Duke "I have a goodly prize to give away" - I think this is better than him just speaking them as in the standard productions. A colourful and energetic finale.
After the curtain call the company sang the national Anthem of Australia, before the curtain finally fell for the evening.
The youngest performers at this year's festival?
I enjoyed this production - it was a little slow at times and a little ragged in places but overall it was a good performance with some excellent ideas and some very funny moments.
