Patience

An attractive preset was on view as we waited for the show to begin.  The curtains closed and we settled to enjoy the overture excellently performed by a very good orchestra well managed   by experienced MD Carol Kenway. The orchestral support   was a highlight of this fun, tongue in cheek romp by Gilbert and Sullivan.

The Scenery and props I liked this comic set which was even more impressive when lit. The colourful cartoon painting was almost luminous and the well painted car and ‘love’ signs were very good. The bridge across the back of the stage was most attractive with the Ivy clad flat behind it.  When the twenty love sick maidens (actually twelve) appeared on stage in their very bright ‘quasi’ hippy dresses, the stage was filled with colour.

I had guessed from the preset scenery that we could expect a contemporary style for this operetta.

Initially I had a problem with this for it took me a huge leap in imagination to accept what I was seeing? The mature ladies wore long brightly designed dresses but were not from any known period in history.  I don’t suppose I have ever thought about ‘aestheticism’ and I suggest neither had most of the audience. The posturing and affectation when Bunthorn arrived (very early in the show) was somewhat uncomfortable to watch.  My lack of understanding of the directors ‘new’ vision in the opening scenes didn’t help me to follow the story and I found the opening of ‘20 love sick maidens we’ very slow and ponderous. Patience the milkmaid appeared a rather timid and submissive character in a pretty, but uninspiring costume against the love sick maidens, so when poet Bunthorn, a completely OTT character flamboyant and colourful, it was difficult to imagine he had fallen dramatically in love with her!

 ‘This production fell between two stools for me. The music,  the singing and much of the acting was pure  and very good G&S, but the inclusion of new dialogue with words cool, hip, groovy etc ( forgive me if I have them wrong)  just didn’t fit  the context. I understood where the directors ‘vision’ lay and applaud his boldness in trying to present a more contemporary approach to the operetta. Having looked carefully on the  internet( I do like to be informed and investigate) I might have chosen to go in the opposite direction, right back to the beginnings of G&S with  the maidens in floaty costumes lounging around the stage in artistic poses ....see Wikipedia... an  Illustration from a 1885 programme. This is  only a passing thought!’

Fortunately the music and the singing (particularly the whole company singing) was very good and carried me through the early scenes. When we reached Act Two I was left in no doubt about the clear narrative and the richness and comedy of the words and story came across strongly and I felt involved and was really enjoying this comic and highly satirical performance.

The Lighting was good; good visibility at all times.

The Sound was good, much improved on last year; clarity of diction was greatly improved.  

The Costumes although very different, were really very good and made to suit each individual. I loved the men’s uniforms, just a pity two of the helmets were of a different colour. Patience’s understated costume was a   marked contrast to the gaudy ladies and the magnificence of the men. The trio of the Duke, Major and Colonel (Its clear that mediaeval art’) costumes were excellent.

The Direction   Once again Mark Beardmore directed and had a leading role. He managed this with ease. Given the limitations of the cast for dance and movement, the stage was always full with good pictures and groupings. Well done Mark with your attempts at modernisation and although it didn’t draw in the audiences, I think that ‘Patience’ as one of the least well known operettas, was the problem here.

The Music... as I commented at the beginning, the music from this very accomplished orchestra was delightful. The strings came over beautifully in the more lyrical sections of the score.

 The Chorus    At the risk of repeating from last year, every member of the cast was enjoying themselves. The singing was very good and the whole company in harmony was excellent. Reactions were good, entrances and exits were slick thus ensuring continuity and pace. You all looked good and professional, well done. 

 

PRINCIPAL PERFORMERS

Mark Beardmore – Reginald Bunthorn. I’m almost afraid to say this but Mark played this man foppishly well! He was melodramatic, emotional and troubled about life...quite OTT. He sang with enviable ease and created a character we liked to laugh at. I did wonder about the wig though, very heavy over the forehead! Well done

Archibald Grosvenor- Dan Mullholland. Well done Dan in his first principal role.  He looked good, sang very well and acted the role with flamboyance. The afro wig added nothing to his performance and although it went with the ‘hippy theme’ it didn’t work for me.

Glynis Barcham -Patience. Ideally suited to this role, Glynis performed with a sweet lyric soprano voice and a sharp eye and ear for the comic asides.  She looked perfect as a naive dairy maid full of propriety, modesty and politeness, but I could see no reason why both the posturing and egocentric Bunthorn and Grosvenor would have fallen madly in love.

Christine Richards The Lady Jane I believe this role is described as ‘plain Jane getting larger throughout the story’... This Jane looked supremely glamorous in her stand out turquoise and the turban was pure ‘Norma Desmond’. The attempt to make slim Christine look ‘portly’ only served to make her look pregnant... a cushion up the frock look! Not a good look from the audience point of view, but that aside.... Christine gave a really excellent performance, fun, teasing and musically very good. Her duet with Bunthorn ‘So go to him, and say with him’ was one of the highlights of the show, very well done.

William King Lieut. The Duke of Dunstable.  Excellent stage presence in a good and comic role, singing was a little weak at the Friday performance, but nice characterisation.

Dave Robinson- Colonel Calverly. Another excellent performance from Dave, very good in uniform and even better as an aging hippy! Well sung and acted, delightful stage presence.

Sam Nicklen -Major Murgatroyd. Very well done Sam, a very good introduction to the principal line up, I look forward to your progress in G&S with interest. A nice voice... don’t be afraid of it, you have talent and will undoubtable do very well.

The Lady’s Angela Ella and Saphir all performed with confidence and sang well. They presented fun characters all different and all well played.

This is a complex piece of theatre, the story of  which doesn’t easily translate to the modern day. ‘Patience’ doesn’t have many rollicking well know tunes and so can be a ‘hard watch’. Clevedon you did your very best with this production, but the audience turnout was poor and this must be a huge disappointment after all your hard work.  Don’t be discouraged... you have a very good production team with Mark Beardmore and Carol Kenway.  Dare I suggest ‘The Gondoliers’ should be performed straight, giving us all the chance to see and hear the glorious music and singing.

We had an enjoyable evening and thank you for the warm welcome from Front of House. I was happy to meet you all back stage where I really appreciated the work that had gone into the costumes and scenery. 

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