 | Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society | |
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| This is the first time in their 18 year-history that the society has attempted the first full-length Savoy opera, and a fine job they made of it too. Director and musical director Nigel Finch kept to a traditional production, albeit one with plenty of innovative touches - I particularly liked his on-stage sprites and fiends, and his chorus sang well and with spirit, even though their faces sometimes failed to register the joy of which they were singing. Without exception the principals were beautifully characterised and larger-than-life, from the elderley Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre and Lady Sangazure (Mark Ward & Sue | Higgins) to the young, love-sick Alexis (Robert Eshelby), Aline (Ruth Hastings) and Constance (Olwen Kieser). There were delightfully appealing performances too from John Love, skillfully playing his own 'flageolet' as Dr Daly, Judy Broom (Mrs Partlett) and Peter Kent (Notary). And Zach Higgins' show-stealing John Wellington Wells was as shady a character as you'd find this side of Petticoat Lane, although his 'disappearance' was just a little too obvious & could have been better staged. The show was also excellently costumed, but quite what a Cossack - seemingly - was doing in a small English village remains a mystery. Conjured up by Mr Wells, perhaps. | |||