The Gondoliers

Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘The Gondoliers’ is purported to be one of Clevedon G & S Society's favorite operetta’s with both the public and performers. I am not a G & S authority and can only comment on what I see and also with what I know and like.

This was my third exposure to ‘The Gondoliers’ and although it was the best performed so far, I cannot put it in my top five G & S operettas. Why? It is a long sit, with very little dance/movement /action/ to keep me involved in the story, which meanders all over the place. Then there are the many solos, which unless you can hear all the words clearly, do not offer good grounds for being included.  

Clevedon G & S Society presented an attractive production, with scenery and costumes both fresh and colourful. Perhaps it would have been appropriate for Tessa and Gianetta to have a different costume in Act 2 as the time scale covered quite a long period.  The lighting was acceptable if unadventurous but the sound was a problem for me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t hear, and the orchestra didn’t overpower, but on many occasions the words were unclear and this must be the result of poor diction from both company and principals.  Good microphones can only pick up what the performer says/sings; it can amplify but not improve. The words in the production should tell the story and move the action along

But that all that aside… the whole cast were fully immersed in their roles, they were obviously singing their hearts out and working hard to maintain their characters.

From the first notes of the overture, the orchestra sounded a little thin, not in volume but in tone. Costs dictate the size of an orchestra and the sound was perfectly acceptable against the singing from the cast… never overpowering and the MD obviously gave the cast confidence by being in control from the front. There were times, particularly in some of the solos when the tempi could have been quicker and this would have added some light and shade and even excitement to some performances.

The direction of this enthusiastic company was, on the whole good, everyone was in the right place at the right time, but the pace was very slow. I know this is G & S and perhaps there are some unwritten rules about the way operetta should be performed, but in the 21st century some subtle changes could be made.

For instance…

• You don’t have to wait for the for the last chorus member to be off stage before you set up and start the next scene (unless of course the music prevents this).
• The setting of the company so often in a semi circle needs to be varied. This did happen at times and when it did, the stage became enlivened and more interesting.
• The pace of the music often dictates the movement. I realise that this company is mature but that is no excuse for not injecting movement, life and enthusiasm into songs. But I did notice in particular… some altos   working their socks off by singing enthusiastically and swaying and moving to enliven proceedings.  (When this happens they stand out from everyone else… in a good way, I might add!)

The principal performances in ‘The Gondoliers’ were overall very good, the ladies… Tessa, Gianetta, The Duchess of Plazatoro and Casilda were each accomplished and entertaining. The men outshone the ladies on this occasion with newcomer Luiz (very well done) the Duke of Plazatoro, Don Alhambra and Marco bringing fun and lightheartedness to   their performances.  But the glue holding the production together came from the performance of Giuseppe, a talent to exploit….a joy to hear, and a delight to watch, with perfect timing for comedy, very well done. It’s not easy directing and taking a leading role as well, and doesn’t always work, but you fortunately had a good second in command of production, so all was well.

When you request a full critique, I will comment on the good and the not so good in an attempt to develop performance. On this occasion the playing membership and audience age range and attendance at performances worried me and I worry for the future for you.  As a part of British musical history G & S should still have its place and be a wonderful medium by which to entertain, but it must start to encompass techniques and tricks from modern musical theatre.  I also know from experience how difficult it is to encourage ‘men’ into a production, and here I offer no help except to chose a show with more women than men….not easy in G & S!

There is within your company much talent and enormous experience and with your next production ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ you have a superb opportunity to introduce new and exciting performance methods. The show is popular and well known, full of movement, funny and highly musical, but it’s full of male pirates and it’s rather difficult for the Major General to have 20 daughters! Oh Dear! Re read my critique of your 2014 production of pirates…. It was a real hit!

But I still look forward to it very much and wish you much success and many pirates!

Thank you all very much for your welcome and hospitality and for listening to me when I presented the Noda long service awards.

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