Patience

Patience was Gilbert and Sullivan’s next show after they wrote the amazingly successful Pirates of Penzance, and is the sixth of fourteen operettas by the talented duo. As with most Gilbert and Sullivan productions, the story tries to take aim at some issue or talking-point of the day. This time it’s the aesthetic movement under fire, with some considering that it is the style and substance of Oscar Wilde being notably ridiculed. Bunthorne, ripping-off either Wilde or his contemporaries, is a self-absorbed foppish-gent with a penchant for velvet and knee-breeches. He adores the attention of the ladies in the way you might expect an “olden days” Russell Brand to appreciate it.

Bunthorne was very well acted and sung by Tony Baker, who stuck to a traditional take on the character. His lady of interest was the delightful Patience - a Milk Maid who could see right through Bunthorne and held high moral values which prevented her cavorting with him!

Our Patience was played effortlessly by Rachael Lewis. Her voice in particular is a delight and brought her character along nicely.

Colonel Calverly was played with conviction by the steadfast Graham Beevers. Graham did have a blip during the production but he didn’t let that trouble him and carried on resolutely, which we all try to do.

Iain Lamb and Chris Warton played Major Murgatroyd and The Duke of Dunstable nicely and contributed to the dragoon guards.

Archibald Grosvenor, another aesthetic poet, was a childhood sweetheart of young Patience. He also wished to make a move on the young milkmaid. What a shame she isn’t into poetry! Grosvenor was nicely played by Colin Belsey.

The various “ladies”, Angela, Jane, Ella and Saphir were playedby Hannah Godden, Sue Richardson, Wendy Belsey and Jo Worton. They all put considerable effort into their characters and gave us some lovely performances. All performers, whilst drilled and ready, were well within their comfort zone and happy with what they had to do- however, I did sometimes wish some of the principals had the confidence to move around a little more.

The chorus did a nice job throughout, with movement simple and well within their capabilities. The music of Gilbert and Sullivan is a delight for G&S aficionados and is worthy of a listen in its own right, but this leads to the greatest shame. That is really the lack of an audience. It’s such a shame that we have a group who work tirelessly to put together such a production but do not get to delight the masses with their interpretation.

The set was simple cloths and basic props, which did the job nicely for this little hall. The asymmetry of the cloth really got to my own OCD, as I kept looking for something to line up with something else, but this was no reflection on the production! The obligatory seagull was, of course, keeping a beady eye on proceedings.

Musical Director, David Tattersall, brought his years of experience to the show and he delivered a fabulous sound from the super orchestra and got the group singing their hearts out.

Hannah Godden was at the helm, and with her many years of knowledge of Gilbert and Sullivan performances ensured a traditional interpretation. Hannah must be pleased with this production and it is nice to see her continuing to direct with this group.

Thank you, Staveley, for the invite and hospitality.

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