Princess Ida

The Director had updated the action of the operetta to the 1920s, which gave the ladies of the chorus some nice period costumes in Act 1, and transformed the warriors into gangster hoodlums, a device which worked very well.  The musicality of the production was excellent under the direction of MD Stephen Sild and Chorus Master David Beall, whose pure tenor voice was put to good effect as he also played Hilarion, the son of the imposing figure of King Hildebrand, played in style by Gordon Smyrell.  The other excellent tenor was Mike Frobisher, as Florian, and baritone Daniel Matuszak completed the trio of friends who worked well as a team, particularly in the cross-dressing comedy sequence in Act 2.  Alistair Bolton was a physically twisted figure as King Gama, and his characterisation was constant in his acting, singing, and movement.

This work suits a society with a preponderance of ladies as there is plenty of work for them, particularly in Act 2, and the female chorus gratefully accepted this gift.  With eight male principals to be cast from the society, the men’s chorus was understandably somewhat depleted, but they acquitted themselves well, on only one occasion struggling to be heard when the ladies were in full voice.

The eponymous heroine does not appear in the first act, but when Lisa Harding made her entrance in Act 2 it was with an assured air and a soaring voice.  Anna-Maria Jackson was a suitably charming and scatty Lady Psyche, and Frances Cook wrung every ounce of comedy out of her role as Lady Blanche, as well as displaying her contralto voice to advantage in her solo in Act 2.  Samantha Holden not only moved very gracefully, but also sang well as Melissa, and the minor principals gave exemplary support.

The house was thin on the first night, and I hope that numbers picked up for the rest of the run of this enjoyable production of a G & S operetta which is not performed as often as the more familiar works.

PS  Congratulations on the attractive and informative programme for the show.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.