A walk over the viaduct and along the disused railway track in the Mondal Valley.
The Yeomen of the Guard
Nene Opera
This production started with the National anthem - quite a shock as it was the first time this festival that we have had a "proper" start to a production. The Overture was played at a sprightly pace with excellent changes of mood and tone. The tabs were lifted to reveal the classic set of the square in the Tower of London with houses/inns to the left and right as well as towers and entrances. To the rear the backcloth was painted with an image of the keep. There was a slightly raised block section in the centre rear of the stage. To the front right of the stage was a spinning wheel which was being expertly manipulated by Phoebe as she sang her plaintive opening song "When a maiden Loves". She had a lovely dress and headdress. Her voice was very pleasant although I did feel it lacked projection. This was overcome later in the operetta as she gained confidence. Toward the end of the song Wilfred wandered on - what a character and what a "disgusting" costume - I was so pleased to see some dirt on it - most productions have a nice clean costume but of course in his job, and with his habits, the costume would soon become dirty. How he longed for her and how she rejected him. Excellent interaction in the initial dialogue.
The chorus entered - how well they sang out and what magnificent costumes. They moved well about the stage, each one knowing their allotted place and how well they reacted to each other and all that was going on. It was such a pleasure to see so many youngsters amongst the more mature. The Yeomen marched on - what a splash of colour they made in their brilliant red costumes which clearly set the date with the HR monogram emblazoned on their chests. Good solo parts. It was good to see Sergeant Meryll moving about "talking" to his men and adjusting their uniform.
Dame Carruthers was an imposing character as she explained about the fire. How well she admonished Phoebe. She sang a good opening number with an accurate if somewhat quite voice. Good interaction between Sergeant Meryll and Phoebe as they discuss the possibility of a reprieve for Fairfax. The Sergeant was a tall imposing figure with a super bass voice which he used to great effect. At this point we have another reprieve, sung by the Sergeant, of the often cut song "A Laughing boy but yesterday". I really like this song and seems to be added now to most of the productions of Yeomen at the festival.
Leonard Meryll rushed on - he was a good actor and singer - too often this role lets a production down but not tonight. He explained that there was no reprieve - they hatched a plot to let Fairfax escape and take Leonard's place as the new Warder. They sang a good trio "Alas! I waver to and fro!" It was characteristic of this production that all the multipart songs were really well balanced - never did we have one voice dominating but always a lovely blend.
Fairfax entered with two guards - he was greeted by the Lieutenant of the Tower. The Lieutenant was tall and imposing with an excellent deep bass voice which he projected really well. Fairfax was a very young actor - he had a super light tenor voice and was a brilliant actor. Their costumes were excellent. He saw Phoebe crying and tried to console her by singing "Is life a boon?" Fairfax and the Lieutenant plot to prevent Fairfax's cousin from inheriting his estates by getting him married before the execution.
The townsfolk enter pursuing Jack Point and Elsie Maynard. This is one of the few productions I have seen where the director has followed Gilbert's instructions that they are "much terrified" How the crowd was threatening them - they were split and encircled as they all sang "Here's a man of jollity" Eventually they escape and offer to sing for the crowd. A good rendition of the duet "I have a song to sing, O!" Jack is a small person but full of energy. His costume in this act is a little bland, although perhaps this is to contrast with the better costume in act two to show that in act one he is very poor, without a job and in act two he is in the employment of the Lieutenant? Elsie has a lovely bright dress on and has a lovely clear voice. They are both excellent actors. At the end of the song they are again attacked by the crowd and Elsie draws her dagger to protect herself. It is not until the Lieutenant come on that they are protected. I found this strange that the attack was allowed to take place even though there were lots of the Yeomen on stage and also the Sergeant? The crown are sent off and the Lieutenant suggests to Elsie that she could earn 100 crowns by just marrying a condemned man for an hour. An excellent trio "How say you, maiden..." Eventually she agrees and is taken of blindfolded by Wilfred.
Point discovers that the Lieutenant wants a new jester and he works hard to obtain that job singing a good solo "I've jibe and joke"
Elsie returns to the stage - she is now married and sings a delightfully plaintive song "'Tis done, I am a bride"
Wilfred returns to the stage and Phoebe has to get the keys from Wilfred - to do this she flirted with him - much to his delight. Eventually she removed the keys from his belt and passed them to her father - she continued to flirt with him until the keys are returned. During this time there were some wonderful moments as Phoebe sang "Were I thy bride" I especially like the part when Wilfred was cuddling her from behind - he sneezed but managed to put his hand over his mouth but then proceeded to wipe his hands on the back of her dress - also when he kept putting his hand on her leg and eventually she moved it over to his own leg - he continued to enjoy that for quite a while ;-)
Fairfax returns to the stage - now without his beard and dressed in the Yeomen uniform. He is introduced to the other Yeomen and they greet him with the song "Oh, Sergeant Meryll, is it true?" Fairfax is very confused about all the feats he has carried out - he is even more confused when Phoebe enters and greets him - he eventually realises that she is his "sister" However, they both fancy each other and the Sergeant has a difficult time in keeping them to their characters. Wilfred does not help this situation by suggesting that Fairfax takes the kisses from her....... Some lovely singing in "To thy fraternal care...."
The mood changes and all prepare for the execution - the Lieutenant send some Yeomen off to get him - they return to tell him that he is not there! The Lieutenant go to check for himself...... Wilfred's life will forfeit instead! Point and Elsie are both distraught at the prospect of her still being married. Some really good singing and reactions from all the cast as the memento builds up to the final ensemble. They all rush off to search leaving Elsie collapsing into Fairfax's arms.
Act two starts with the yeomen searching still and the towns folk mocking them for being so incompetent. Dame Carruthers admonishes them with the well sung song "Warders are ye?". All leave the stage and then Point starts to read from his joke book - Wilfred enters and confesses that he would quite like to become a jester - they have great fun with the following dialogue, culminating in and energetic and well sung song by Point ""Oh a private buffoon" - they then plot to pretend that Wilfred has killed Fairfax - singing the duet "Hereupon we're both agreed".
Fairfax comes onto an empty stage - he is free but regrets his hasty marriage - he sings a delightful rendition of "Free from his fetters grim" Dame Carruthers warns Fairfax that Elsie is already married. One of the highlights of the production follow - the quartet "Strange adventure..." This was beautifully sung - again as I mentioned earlier, the balance was perfect. It was far better than that sung by the professional company earlier in the festival.
Fairfax now realises that he is married to Elsie - he decides to test her by flirting with her as Leonard - she rejects his advances and then suddenly a shot is heard - or rather a small pop - possibly the smallest "arquebus" I have every heard - lets have a huge bang and shock us all as usual! Anyway -all rush on to see what it is all about - I was pleased to see people dressing as they came on. Point and Wilfred come on and explain that Wilfred has just shot Fairfax - they have great fun as Point keeps "putting in his oar" and correcting Wilfred, much to the latter's annoyance, singing "Like a ghost his vigil keeping" Wilfred is carried off a hero - no mean feat for the two yeomen selected ;-)
Fairfax watches Point trying to woo Elsie and tells him that he will show him how it should be done - the trio is a delight - "A man who would woo a fair maid" The following quartet "When a wooer goes a wooing" keeps up the pace and the quality of the singing. Phoebe is shattered when Fairfax goes off with Elsie - she lets it slip to Wilfred that she loves her "brother" He realises that he must be Fairfax - but Elsie points out it can not be as Wilfred has recently shot him! She agrees to marry him if he will keep quiet.
Leonard returns to give the good news that Fairfax is reprieved - she embraces him much to the confusion of Wilfred - especially when she tells him he is her brother - how many more does she have........ Phoebe is telling her father, Sergeant Meryll, about what has happened and Dame Carruthers overhears them - again the deal is for her to marry the Sergeant. At this point the director has cut the duet "Rapture, Rapture". I usually enjoy this duet and must admit, like many others around me, I did miss it. The directors note state that the song has been cut because "its bouncing vulgarity ruins the poignant denouement of the work" Whilst I can see his point I still think it would have been better to include this popular item. The next part of the operetta is the preparation for the wedding and this is a joyous time - so there is a break between the "Rapture, Rapture" and the sad ending - it does not follow directly.
Elsie is now in a lovely wedding dress (the adjudicator was totally wrong here (again) when she did not like the dress). What a lovely scene as townsfolk gather for the wedding. A super trio from Elsie, Phoebe and Dame Carruthers "'Tis said that joy in full perfection" The Lieutenant puts a damper on the festivities by telling everyone that Elsie's husband is still alive. Fairfax enters in a wonderful costume. He tells Elsie to put all thoughts of Leonard Meryll aside. Eventually she looks up and realises that Fairfax is in fact the one she thought was Leonard. Point enters - he is now really ill - this illness has been coming on more and more over his last couple of scenes - this is an excellent touch as in too many productions Point changes from a happy go lucky person to someone who dies of a broken heart in seconds. Despite his protestations they are to marry and all this is too much for Point who collapses and dies as the production comes to an end. At this point the cast froze and stayed like that for a couple of raising and lowering the tabs - a lovely touch - avoiding the decision of what to do with Point with a normal curtain call.
I really enjoyed this production - I thought the comments of the adjudicator were cruel and ill-founded. All the cast were very good - the chorus were great - they sang well and were constantly reacting to what was going on on stage. The lighting was exemplary - changing the mood with subtle modifications and also sometimes with dramatic changes - I especially liked the red colour on the backcloth during dramatic moments. The only things I did not like were the cutting of Rapture Rapture and the sound effects of the clock chiming - I realise that this was meant to show the passage of time but too often it drowned the words being spoken by the actors. Well done to all involved. The costumes were brilliant!
Sorry about the lack of photos - the freeze at the end and no curtain call caught me out ;-)
