Princess Ida

Princess Ida, one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s less performed operas, was new to me but I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to see this fine show by the Arts Barn group.

If you don’t already know, Princess Ida of Scotland is betrothed, at the age of one to Prince Hilarion of England. They are due to marry when she is 21 but by that time she has created an academy for women who eschew men entirely (very 21st century!) and doesn’t turn up. Consequently her father and brothers are imprisoned by Hilarion’s father. Prince Hilarion and his chums break into the academy, disguise themselves as girls in order to infiltrate the establishment and rescue Ida from herself, a task in which, after various bits of G & S nonsense, they succeed.

The show was lively, moving along at a good pace, and singing and acting were of a high standard. There were some very good solo performances, most notably from David Russell as Hilarion, Sam Burgess as Melissa and Carly-Jane Panter as Princess Ida. Mark Hanson was a smashing Cyril – his total involvement in the fun of the show was a joy to watch. The Scots – Ida’s father and her ‘neanderthal’ brothers - were an outrageous stereotype but, writing as a Scot, also very, very funny. I especially liked Louie Utterson as Scynthius, keeping up a look that I can only describe as ultra-gormless throughout the show.

Chorus work was very good and the diction of the cast was, in general, of a high standard – not easily achieved in G & S especially. With over 30 people on stage at times, good choreography was essential – and this was done well.

Whilst most of the humour in the show worked well I thought that there were times when more could have been made of some of the comic lines (especially when members of the chorus were involved).

The set was a very simple one which worked well in general, though I think the blank, light, backcloth limited the ability to create more atmosphere for each act. Lighting was used in a very creative way to turn drapes into different coloured columns in each act – I wonder if the same could have been done with the backcloth?

The orchestra, led by Leslie Crowson, was excellent and no doubt his work as musical director told in the quality of singing too.

Well done Arts Barn!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.