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Patience

Author: Julie Petucci

Information

Date
22nd February 2017
Society
Girton Musical Theatre
Venue
Girton Glebe School Girton Cambridge
Type of Production
Musical
Director
Jane Williams & Helen Wilson
Musical Director
Patricia Davies
Choreographer
Helen Wilson

Patience is one of the less performed Gilbert and Sullivan operettas although it was very popular when it opened in 1881 probably because Gilbert had turned his satirical eye to the ‘in vogue’ craze for aesthetics in the world of the arts.

The story revolves around Bunthorne, a posturing poet, who is loved by all the local village maidens but whose heart belongs to Patience, the milkmaid, who has never loved until Archibald Grosvenor, another poet and childhood friend turns up but as he turns out to be perfect Patience rejects him in favour of Bunthorne.  The village maidens transfer their affections to Grosvenor (with the exception of Lady Jane who remains devoted to Bunthorne).  Meanwhile the local troop of Dragoon Guards are desperately trying various ploys to regain the affections of their ladies.  All is finally settled to everyone’s satisfaction except perhaps Bunthorne himself.

Girton Musical Theatre (founded as Girton Operatic) came up with the ingenious idea of setting the operetta in a community television studio.  The set was superbly thought out with roundels depicting the local area. There was a plethora of amusing and imaginative touches including a working “On Air” light when the “programmes” were taking place.  After meeting the studio’s patron The Duke we watched, without the need of the remote control: twenty-ish lovesick hippies, guest  stars the boy band “Dragoon’d”, the current Dairy Queen (Patience), Poet’s Corner, Blind Date, several Make-Overs, Ask Angela etc.  This lead to many humorous touches including some amazing props.   Everything was complimented with a well-lit set by David Stubbings and there was some great clapper-board work by various studio technicians too.

As is somewhat of a tradition over at Girton the usual boring “housekeeping” information before curtain up was sung in true and amusing G&S style by Jerry Harrison.  Lots of thought had gone into that and also into the traditional mixing of topical items within the songs.  You can be sure we did not miss out on Brexit, Trump, Corbyn, Boris or Theresa.  

Musical Director Patricia Davies had put together a first-rate 15-piece orchestra,and the overture was played to an open stage with the cast setting up the TV studio for a day’s recording which created an interesting opening aurally and visually.

The opening number  ‘Twenty love-sick maidens we’ was most amusing with the ladies’ chorus using the studio’s male technicians to reluctantly make up their number.  These “maidens” led by Angela (Nirupa Desai),  Saphir (Jo Lewry) and Jane (Glynis Ellis) all threw themselves into the roles of adoring fans with much gusto. The voices of the members of ladies chorus were excellent it all sounded lovely.  The male chorus, who were not outshone, also did a fine job whilst all over-acting outrageously. 

Øistein Andersen created a very languid Bunthorne, the lusted after poet – I would however, have liked to have heard more variation in his delivery which I feel would have added much to an already good performance.  George Thorpe as the “perfect” Archie Grosvenor created a very narcissistic character, making much of his role as a “Trustee of Beauty”.

The three officers of the Dragoons, Roger Few as the Major, Steven Aronson as the Duke and Jerry Harrison as the Colonel, complemented each other well.

Patience played by Maggie Phillips as a Marilyn Munro lookalike did a stellar job as she oscillated between Bunthorne and Archie. Glynis Ellis proved her worth as the constant Jane and I have to say Nirupa Desai (Angela) is a wonderful new find for this society, with a beautiful voice and plenty of stage presence.

Congratulations to directors Jane Williams and Helen Wilson.  This duo always seem to achieve a fresh approach to G&S and are never short of ideas which add interest and humour to a Girton production.  The society’s loyal patrons, of which there are many, will have found much to enjoy in this year’s offering.

 

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