The Gondoliers

Certainly, the sunniest and brightest of the canon, and a firm favourite of very many people because of its catchy tunes and bright and colourful costumes.  Just what was needed on a damp October evening to lift the sprits and transport us to somewhere warm and sunny.

This was a semi-staged, semi narrated production, in full costume which generally worked well with a large, and very experienced cast accompanied by a single piano. The accompaniment was super throughout – very many congratulations and I loved the addition of the castanets which sounded so authentic and were very well played, and which really added to the whole atmosphere and setting of the production. 

Costumes were bright and colourful and, once more, just as they needed to be, and everyone looked comfortable and ‘at home’ wearing them.

Singing was generally very good – a couple of memory lapses soon overcome – and a good sound – with some lovely characterisations and facial expressions from all – chorus and principals alike,  which is so important in any production but, in my opinion, especially G & S, as it is a sad fact that either the audience know the words and music almost as well as you do, which means good facial expressions and reactions just add to their enjoyment, or they are totally unfamiliar with it and therefore really need good facial expressions and reactions to help tell the story.   

My one concern was the positioning of the conductor – such a vital role, but on a personal level I did find it quite distracting, and he unfortunately prevented me from seeing a fair amount of ‘what was going on’ on the stage.  I wonder if perhaps it would be worth considering siting the conductor to one side on an angle facing the singers?  Not quite so easy for the singers I know, or perhaps even amending the seating so that the audience are sitting at tables, cabaret style or in two semi-circles either side rather than straight lines?   The voices would certainly be loud enough to carry, and the audience would miss less of the action and staging?

That said, it was still a most enjoyable and highly entertaining evening and my thanks go to all who were in any way connected with the production not only for a delightfully entertaining evening but also for keeping the works of our beloved Gilbert& Sullivan alive and relevant today.  Thank you and, of course, carry on the good work.

Christine Hunter Hughes – 12.10.19

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