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Patience

Author: Julie Petrucci

Information

Date
13th June 2014
Society
Cambridgeshire Light Opera Group
Venue
Downing Farm Swaffham Bulbeck
Type of Production
Musical
Director
Lynne Bullen
Musical Director
Angela Roebuck
Choreographer
not attributed

The annual trip to a Swaffham Bulbeck Summer Theatre production is always worth while, and this year was no exception.

Lynne Bullen’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience was brimming with cheeky humour and wonderfully over-the-top characters.  Patience is a satire on the aesthetic movement of the 1870s and ‘80s in England which emphasised aesthetic values over the moral.  

The two poets in the opera are given to reciting their own verses aloud, principally to the admiring chorus of rapturous maidens.

At its centre is the poet Reginald Bunthorne, played by William Hale giving his all with full narcissistic flamboyance. He has stolen the hearts of twenty maidens with his pretentious versifying sending them into a frenzy.  However, he is about to become overshadowed by the even greater narcissist Archibald Grosvenor.  Gavin Jarvis was excellent in this role. His demeanour was spot on, as the epitome of perfection, with a voice to match it.

Both ensembles - the rapturous maidens and the dragoons were first-rate, particularly the maidens in the named roles: Ruth Dennis (Lady Angela) Sian McDowall (Lady Saphir),  Claudia Busse (Lady Ella) and Caille Sugarman-Banaszak (deliberately) over-acting her heart out as (according to the script) the very plain Lady Jane.

Having lost the ladies’ affections to the two poets Colonel Calverly (Geoff Reed), Major Murgatroyd (Leslie Wheeler) and the Duke of Dunstable (Steven Aronson) attempt to win them back by adorning themselves in flowers and leaves - reminding one of a rather effete Dads Army - which had the audience rocking with laughter.

In the title role Anna Murgatroyd was superb.  She has the most beautiful voice and a nice stage presence.  She brought out the comedy moments of the role as she vacillated between Bunthorne and Grosvenor.  A fine performance.

Full praise to all those who turn the huge barn into an auditorium each year, to the excellent lighting team, Lynne Bullen for the wonderful costumes and to the ladies of the hair and make-up team.  The whole production was visually pleasing.

This most enjoyable of evenings was underpinned by some superb singing and an absolutely excellent orchestra under the baton of Musical Director Angela Roebuck.  Not an amplifier nor a radio mike in sight and we heard every note and every word clearly. Top marks all round.

Every ounce of humour was drawn out of this lovely comic opera.  Congratulations to everyone involved.  I am already looking forward to next year.

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