The Sorcerer

The Sorcerer a opera staged by Hoghton Players at Aughton Village Hall, Winifred Lane, Aughton on Saturday, 22nd October 2022.

The Sorcerer is a two-act comic opera, with libretto by W.S Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan. It was their third operatic collaboration.  THE PLOT… is based on a Christmas story ‘An Elixir of Love’ that Gilbert wrote for a magazine in 1876.  A young man, ‘Alexis’, is obsessed with the idea of love levelling all ranks and social distinctions. To promote his beliefs, he invites the proprietor of J.W Wells and Co., Family Sorcerers, to brew a love potion.  This causes everyone in the village to fall in love with the first person they see which results in many comically mismatched couples.  In the end, Wells must sacrifice his life to break the spell! 

This was Hoghton Players second of four venues that they were performing this piece, the previous evening they’d been to St Cuthberts Church in Halsall and the final two performances taking place on the 28th October when they re-locate to Trinity Church, Tarleton and then their final performance is a special performance which starts in the afternoon of the 29th October with an invitation to ‘Come and Sing’ with them and then, if you wish, to join them in the evening to either watch or perhaps join in with their final performance of The Sorcerer... Hoghton Players on Tour, well done one and all!

Production Team… Gwyneth Farrer (Stage Direction), Ian Dunning (Performances Conductor + Performer) and Anne Dickinson MBE (Piano Accompaniment) were the people tasked with overseeing this performance and what a great job they did.  To take a production on ‘tour’ for want of a better phrase is a task in itself, to adapt it to the various locations is never easy… but with ease they achieved it … and the above, plus the various cast members should also be congratulated for adapting to the varied locations and the different performance spaces they encounter.   Well done be proud each and all!

The Cast … as always, I’m never one to ‘shirk responsibility’ so can I once again ‘stick my neck out’ and selected my favourite performances and then perhaps my favourite musical pieces!  The call for ‘showstealer’ was a very close call between Andrew Lamb and his performance as Dr. Daly (Rector of Ploverleigh) and Peter Dunning and his performance as John Wellington Wells (Of J.W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers) …I finally decided on Peter Dunning’s performance, but having said that both performances were impressive, both men had great voices, both have great stage presence and equally their ability to work with and duet with the other members of the cast was notable!  I just think what stole it for me was the amazing characterisation of John Wellington Wells that Peter brought to the fore… great mannerisms, facial expressions aplenty and he really did bring the character to life!  So be very proud both of you… great jobs… wafer thin decision!    Favourite musical pieces… it was difficult to actually decide on these because… I wasn’t sure of the title of all the pieces and I sometimes felt that ‘it’ was perhaps from a larger piece of work… so here goes and hope I don’t make too much of a fool of myself!  My first choice I believe was from the Act 1 finale … ‘Alexis and Aline’ (Dermot Coghlan and Gwyneth Farrar) duetting… in the lyric they sing about ‘exquisite treasure that knows no alloy, oh love, true love… beautifully sung, real togetherness within the lyrics… loved it and I think the song was entitled ‘Oh Love True Love’!  I’ve done a bit of homework on choice number two, I believe the title is ‘Time Was When Love and I Were Well Acquainted’ sung by Andrew Lamb as Dr. Daly.  Tremendous song, sung wonderfully well and again great lyrics… well done Andrew, be ever so proud!  My final choice was Peter Dunning’s rendition of ‘My name is John Wellington Wells’… again great lyrics, witty, sung and acted really well, be ever so proud sir!  All the cast members worked really well together and they should all be proud of what they achieved… Ray Dutton took on the role of ‘Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre’, the elderly Baronet and played it really well; Dermot Coghlan played his son ‘Alexis’, a Guards Officer who is in love and betrothed to ‘Aline’ played ever so well by Gwyneth Farrar.  Alexis believes that everyone should experience the same joy as he!  Aline’s mother, ‘Lady Sangazure’, was played really well by Alison Davies… be proud Alison great job!   As previously highlighted, Andrew Lamb took on the role of Dr Daly, the parish rector. Ian Dunning was not only Concert Conductor but also took on the role of ‘a Lawyer’ and played it really well!  Peter Dunning did an exceptional job with John Wellington Wells again as previously highlighted. The role of ‘Mrs Partlet’ was a shared role between Elspeth Fisher and Caroline Grindley. On the night I saw it performed, it was Elspeth playing the role, which she did really well… be proud Elspeth, great job!  ‘Constance’, Mrs Partlet’s daughter was played with great aplomb by Patricia Maitland… great job Patricia, be proud!  Ian Well’s guided us through the piece as our Narrator… good clear diction which is vital for this type of role!   The Ensemble included ‘Demons and Waiters’ played by Sue Wells and David Sidey, and Residents of Ploverleigh and Magical Spirits’ being played by Irene Baker, Diane Beirne, Carol Chamberlain, Iris Kelly, Dennis Davis, Tim Foy, Mike Lomax, Clive Purchase, Olwen Walsh, Robina White and Jean Whiteley. It was obvious that the ensemble was well rehearsed and vocally very strong, be proud ladies and gentlemen a really good performance!

Staging/Tech was minimal.  The performance was played on the floor of the village hall, with cast sat on chairs… rising as and when required to perform.  It was simple, but it worked and when you’re moving locations, then this was an ideal arrangement … well done, one and all.

Costumes and Props were well sourced and used really well to enhance the production… they were under the watchful eye of Caroline Grindley and Ray Dutton respectively… well done, you two!

The only disappointment from the evening was the audience size… all I can say is that we were the lucky ones!

Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I we really did enjoy the evening.  Can I say thanks to Ray Dutton for meeting and greeting us and for looking after us throughout the night.   Hope to see you all again soon…

Stay safe and keep well
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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