An Evening at Palm Court

An Evening at Palm Court was a side-step away from Girton Musical Theatre’s usual full blown G&S production.  Staying with tradition, our evening commenced with Jerry Harrison’s cleverly written and well sung house-keeping notes followed by music from Girton’s answer to the Palm Court Orchestra.  The eighteen-piece orchestra under the baton of MD Patricia Davies treated the audience to a few well-known orchestral pieces, taking us back to a more genteel era where well-dressed society partook of afternoon tea in plush hotels and where ties were definitely worn.  

This interlude was followed by a one-act play written by Damian Trasler Murder in Twilight Gardens about four amateur sleuths in a retirement home endeavouring to solve a murder within their community.  A neat little piece where the ladies, with the help of their activities manager, endeavoured to make their perceived clues fit their chosen perpetrator.  Although interesting and amusing the pace suffered from slow cue bite and at times slightly apprehensive delivery.  Nevertheless, as I say, it was an amusing piece and well chosen to complete the first half.  The second part of the evening was back to Girton Musical Theatre’s forte - Gilbert & Sullivan. This time Trial By Jury which aficionados of G&S will know is usually played in tandem with either HMS Pinafore or The Sorcerer .  As with most Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the plot of Trial by Jury is somewhat ludicrous, but the characters behave as if the events are perfectly reasonable. The story concerns a "breach of promise of marriage" lawsuit in which the judge and legal system are the objects of lighthearted satire.  Basically it all revolves around who will be getting the most financial compensation.  

Costumes, particularly for the ladies, were without, doubt lovely.  The opening number with the Foremen, Gentlemen of the Jury and the Public attending the trial was, I am sure, well done but, as it surprisingly lacked volume, it was overpowered by the orchestra.  Jerry Harrison was in exceedingly good voice as the Usher and Ariel Cahn excellent as The Defendant telling everyone why The Plaintiff was better off without him as he was such a bad lot.  I always enjoy listening to Maggie Phillips and her performance as the Bridesmaid certainly didn’t disappoint.  Vic Olphin too has a lovely voice and was excellent as The Defendant and Øistein Andersen as The Learned Judge was certainly “… a good judge too”.  This was another amusing piece to complete the evening. The whole programme was well thought out.  Everything worked well together and as always there were a few little humorous quirks sneaked in to snag our attention such as the various “marriage” newspaper headlines on view in the opening scene at The Palm Court cropping up again later on in the public gallery of the court.  

Congratulations to all involved, this was an interesting evening seeing a combination of something old and something new

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.