Patience

Thank you for the warm welcome from your President Angela Bowen. Your busy front of house team, (Box office and Front of House - Chris Carter and Friends of the Society) were excited to see me, and I was shown to my seat replete with programme. Programme design - Ann Skelly, I would love to see the NODA information in the programme next time. Your programme is always very informative, and I would love to enter it into the NODA Programme Competition, sadly, without these extra elements, it does not qualify. Here is the information you need for future reference - https://www.noda.org.uk/programme-and-poster-competition .  I noticed your socials were full of information and engaging content leading up to show week, well done publicity - John Bailes, Ruth Martin, Graham Mitchell, Ann Skelly with photography by Robert Skears and artwork designed by Laura Anstice-Pim, and Graham Mitchell.

Patience is a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta satirising the 1870s aesthetic craze, focusing on the milkmaid Patience (Cat Lee), who is loved by two poets, the fraudulent Reginald Bunthorne (Mike Gray) and the genuine Archibald Grosvenor, (David Mills). The local village ladies abandon their military suitors for the poets, but Patience rejects them for being unselfish. The operetta follows the comical attempts by the military men to win back their ladies and the poets' subsequent love triangle, which is resolved when all characters end up with suitable partners.

Your show opened on an ‘idyllic village’ which is filled with young ladies who are infatuated with the ‘aesthetic craze,’ Linda Davy, Barbara Eastaff, Karen Jones, Margot Male, Ruth Martin, Kim Phillips, Alison Statham, Katie Thomas, and Jenny Tygrys as the rapturous maids and Lady Ella played by Sophie Elliot, with Lady Angela played by Paula Fraser. ‘Twenty Lovesick Maidens We’, was vocally a triumph. Bright, charming and the colourful costumes (Wardrobe - Karen Elliott), set the scene for the rest of the operetta. The Officers of The Dragoon Guards - John Bailes, David Chawner, David Male, and Simon Thomas, are utterly baffled by the attitude of their ladies, as they cannot understand why they prefer a long-haired poet to manly soldiers. Their attempts to win the ladies back by acting in a similarly languid and effeminate manner provided great physical comedy. During Act 1, we hear the poets are both in love with Patience, a simple milkmaid who is indifferent to their aesthetic pronouncements. Lady Saphir played by Karen Elliott, Lady Jane played by Ann Skelly and of course Patience played by Cat Lee complete the scene. The best characterisation on stage the whole evening was Paula Fraser as Lady Angela, a strong performance, lovely vocals, clever acting choices with great facial expressions. Alan Bennett played Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor with great comic timing during the raffle draw and his plea for a ‘usual half holiday on Saturday’ was another lovely comedic moment.

Another highlight from Act 1 was ‘When I First Put This Uniform On’, performed by Charlie Wakely (as Col Calverley) and the Dragoons. You really romped through it with a jolly pace and excellent diction. (Graham Mitchell as Major Murgatroyd and Paul Harman as Lieut, Dunstable.) The final moments in Act 1, with everyone on stage was cleverly choreographed with lovely characterisation and comedic timing. (Let The Merry Cymbals Sound).

Taught that true love must be unselfish, Patience rejects both poets, Reginald Bunthorne performed by Mike Gray, and Archibald Grosvenor performed by David Mills. Patience is the only woman not infatuated with Bunthorne, as she states she is unaware of love's supposed agonies. The other women, especially the mature Lady Jane, expound on the self-sacrificial nature of true love, leading Patience to decide she must find someone to love as a duty, not a pleasure. ‘Though to Marry You Would Very Selfish Be’. Bunthorne, aided by Lady Jane (his one remaining admirer), threatens Grosvenor with a ‘dire curse’ unless he renounces aestheticism, cuts his hair, and becomes perfectly ordinary. Grosvenor is secretly delighted to have a valid excuse to become ‘an every-day young man’ and changes his appearance and manner accordingly. This entire sequence, culminating in the ‘I'm a Commonplace Young Man’ duet with Bunthorne, was a wonderful comic highlight.

Of course, the story concludes with the military men and the ladies reunited, and the poets finding their suitable matches. I felt your production was well directed by Laura Anstice-Pim.  Laura, the movement you created on stage was comically dramatic, your performers filled the stage and brought the characters to life with hilarious moments and clever body language, and facial expressions. With David Anstice-Pim as Musical Director and Linda Davy your Producer, your production was well-paced, visually charming with many clever highlights. Your stage manager, Emily Giddings, kept the show moving at a slick pace and everyone seemed to be where they needed to be. I noticed good use of stage props to enhance the story and I enjoyed your stage lighting, admirably handled by Martin Putman.

I noticed from your programme that your rehearsal repetiteurs were Rowena Gibbons and Prajna Indrawati, with Prajna playing for your performance. Plus, you still have your regular rehearsal refreshments people, Jean Bates, Alison Statham, and Katie Thomas. It is clear your society has a warm, welcoming attitude and a commitment to G&S, I'd highly recommend any potential new members to 'give it a go' and join you. Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary. As always, you all looked like you were enjoying the performance, and I am envious of your energy. Thank you once again, I look forward to seeing you all at Stantonbury Theatre in November.

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