South Anglia Players
Princess Ida
South Anglia are the true traditionalists of the Festival so it was with great anticipation that we went down to the opera house for tonight's production of Princess Ida - one of my favourites of the canon. The overture started up at a good pace and shortly after it did so we were surprised to see the tabs lifting. They revealed a new set - the setting appeared to be the inside of a castle hung with dark maroon drapes. These were pained onto the flats at both sides. One of the members of the ladies chorus came on carrying some rolled up material - she placed it on the floor at the centre of the stage and unrolled it to reveal several large tapestry type wall hangings which she distributed to the other ladies present - they took them had hung them up on sticks which they then hoisted into position. They had some interesting drawings on them...... The ladies were decorating the castle for the forthcoming arrival of Ida and Gama. As the overture came to an end more of the citizens were coming onto the stage - it became obvious that this was not set in the normal Princess Ida type period/area, but seemed to be either Viking or Celtic times. Later on when the three sons came on it was more obviously Viking from their helmets but then again during the later battle scenes the warriors were painted with blue woad. Also the magnificent ginger hair and beards of the three sons of Gama would again suggest the Celtic origins.
Wonderful singing and movement as the citizens look out for Gama - how well they move. The costumes are really good and all fit well. Florian had an excellent deep voice which he used to great effect as he sang his solo bits. King Hildebrand came on - he had a super black, menacing costume and was well made up. He good fun with Florian as they discussed if Ida was with them? The next part, where Hildebrand asks his servants to prepare for Gamma was really well done - his directed his orders to different groups who went off to prepare. They eventually returned with the appropriate items - well done - it made much more sense to do it that way.
Again good singing and excellent movement around the stage as the citizens explained what they would do depending upon Gama's response. Hilarion entered - he had an excellent voice with great projection - His costume was good and he had a very long wig of flowing locks. He sang a good opening ballad "Ida was a twelvemonth old".
Gamma's three sons entered - this was one of the highlights of an already superb show. They were three really tall men with magnificent costumes and helmets. They had superb ginger wigs and long beards - one carried a huge two handed sword, one an axe and the other a cudgel (Thanks Alan for that word ;-) The actions they put into the song "We are Warriors Three" were so funny - also the way in which the other two brothers repeated the word at the end of the lines - for example when Arac sang "We are warriors three" Guron sang "Two" and Scynthius sang "One" - they did this sort of thing all the way through. Especially funny on the "Masculine in sex" bit. How well they threatened the citizens and how well the chorus reacted to them
King Gama entered - he was in a bright yellow costume with a leather hat. He walked all doubled up using a stick and a crutch. Although his diction and singing was excellent it was too quiet - I did have difficulty in hearing what he was singing. I was a little disappointed with his performance especially when I remember how good he was last year as the Duke of Plaza Toro - for which he won an award. His opening solo was competently sung and then he had good interaction with the citizens as he tried to get them to give him details of how the king treated them - he met his match with Cyril. As they had not brought Ida they were all held hostage - it was most amusing to see the two young boys playing the part of jailors taking away these three huge men in chains.
Hilarion sang a delightful solo "Expressive glances" as he suggested that he could perhaps convince Ida to come to him without the need for a battle.
With a resounding "For a month to dwell" the first act came to a close.
Act two opened up in the gardens of castle Adamant. Here three young novice students were brought into the castle - blindfolded, I assume to prevent them finding their way out again???? The other girls were going about their business. I felt that some of the ladies' costumes were not brilliant? Melissa asked Lady Psyche about which books the students should read and the latter sang her solo part, issuing the novices with their books as she did so - a good touch. Sacharissa asked about "man" and Psyche went off into a tirade about them in a well sung song. Psyche was an excellent actress with good diction and a really good voice.
Lady Blanche entered and handed out the punishments with great glee - what a sadist ;-) .
Ida came on - she sang her opening Aria with great skill. She is a wonderful singer and performer but I did feel that tonight she did not have the volume which I expected from previous years. Never the less her notes were pure and accurate and her acting really swept you along. Her costume was lovely. She then delivered a stirring speech "Women of Adamant..." This was probably the best I have ever heard this very difficult speech. She made it come to life.
Lady Blanche bemoaned her lot as she was only second in command. - she sang the song "Come, mighty Must". Although she sang it well I think this is a song which could quite easily be cut - it does nothing much for the plot - once we know Blanche wants to be in charge that would be enough?
The three enter the castle - two of them struggle over the walls at the back and then Cyril just walked in through the front gate - looking at the other two in amazement at what they have just done - very funny! They find a book and scoff at what the women are attempting to do. Then they find the robes - unlike most productions they do not attempt to put them on on-stage - instead they go off stage and three of the students come on stage - they have a book which they start to look at with great glee - Lady Psyche enters - sees that they are looking at something which, by this time the first one has hidden behind her back - as Lady Psyche demands to see it she slips it to the next girl before she shows her empty hands. This goes along the line until the last one drops it with a huge crash - Lady Psyche dismisses them - looks at the book - is at first shocked and then starts to look at it with great enthusiasm as she moves off stage. This action has given the boys time to put on their robes and it seemed to work well - quite often we have embarrassing pauses as they struggle to get into their robes.
The three have great fun as they leap about in their robes singing "I am a maiden....." This is really well done yet again. The Princess enters and the four have good interaction as the Princess tells them what would be expected of them if they are to become students at her university. A beautiful quartet "The world is but a broken toy" follows - really well sung by all and beautifully balanced. Psyche comes on and discovers that they are boys but as she is Florian's sister they all have good fun remembering the past. Psyche sings and excellent song "A Lady fair..." where she explains why Man has come from the ape. Melissa enters and spots they are males - how she flirts with Florian. They sing an excellent "The women of the wisest wit..." with really good movement from all.
They run off but are spotted by Lady Blanche who realises that two are tenors and one is a baritone - despite Melissa trying to persuade her that they are girls. Eventually Melissa convinces Blanche that if she keeps the secret then Hilarion will marry Ida and take her away - leaving Blanche in charge - Blanche likes this idea! The sing an excellent duet "Now wouldn't you like to rule the roast" This is one of my favourite duets in the canon.
Time for lunch and instead of bringing out the usual mass of food which is often never touched it becomes apparent that the girls are all on diets and there are just a few vegetables and some fruit for them to chew on - a nice touch as the girls look so disappointed at what they have been offered. Cyril is constantly drinking from a huge flagon of wine and chewing on a stick of celery - he gets quite tipsy and bursts into the kissing song "Would you know the kind of maid....." Cyril lets Hilarion's name slip out in his drunken state and the Princess is shocked - she rushes off to and falls into the river - she is rescued by Hilarion and the two return - they have both changed costumes so that they look wet and dirty - Ida also has a new wig on which is bedraggled and contains water weeds.
Ida orders their capture - Hilarion sings a lovely solo "Whom thou has chained...." The girls all plead for mercy but suddenly Melissa rushes in to say that the castle is under attack. Hildebrand's soldiers enter - these have superb costumes and have their faces painted with woad. they are very aggressive and all sing a good ensemble "Rend the air.." Hildebrand comes on and explains that he will not attack them if Ida agrees to be Hilarion's bride. The three brothers are dragged on - by the two young boys again - very funny as they struggle with each other - they explain that Hildebrand will kill them if Ida does not consent. - really good singing in their trio. The Princess will not give in and prepares to defend her castle as she sings "Though I am but a girl......".
Act Three opens inside the castle - the girls run on in their superb battle uniform - really ready for a fight signing "Death to the invader.." It soon becomes apparent that really they do not want to fight as it turns to "Please you, do not hurt us." The princess enters - she has a wonderful costume which includes plate armour. She is most disappointed with the response of her troops and promises to carry out the actions of them all by herself. Once deserted so by her girls she sings a wonderful plaintive "I build upon a rock..
Gama returns to the castle - he has been asked by Hildebrand to let the three brothers fight for her instead. He sings his patter song "Whene'er I spoke.." Again it was rather quiet but well delivered. The soldiers return singing "When anger spreads it's wing.." Hilarion, Florian and Cyril are brought out - Gama has good fun at their expense - then we have the fight - this is one of the best fights I have seen in a G&S production - It is really well choreographed and goes on for quite a long time until eventually after much mayhem the brothers are defeated on a ratio of 2:1. Ida admits defeat and after some amusing dialogue realises that some of her main premises have flaws in them.
She hand over the reins to Lady Psyche and with a stirring rendition of "with Joy abiding.." the operetta comes to a close.
This is one of the best productions of Princess Ida I have seen - and there have been some really good ones at festivals past. The chorus was outstanding in everything the did - their interaction with both the principals and other chorus members was brilliant - you never saw anyone just standing around not knowing what to do. The attention to detail was super - the different members of the castle community all held onto their roles - we even had a wizard and a soothsayer. All the principals performed well. A credit to this company and to my mind the best amateur production so far in the festival.
