The Sorcerer

After a rousing overture typically G & S, the Curtains opened to reveal, from the
Company’s point of view a poorly filled auditorium, but from the Audiences point of
view a well-dressed stage with light and colour and anticipation of an entertaining
production. Even for those amongst the audience who are not G & S fans, they could not deny that
this was not a well-presented show.

Hired in sets and costumes made this a colourful show, the costumes were not only
appropriate to the characters being portrayed but also well fitted. The atmosphere
throughout the show was helped by a well-designed and sympathetic lighting plot,
especially during the Incantation. The green light in the Sorcerers bag and shadows was
a very well-lit sequence. Sound was good throughout, the floating mikes and stage mikes
picking up the harmonies very well, the company of villagers and servants giving a good
sound and volume. Movement on stage and entrances and exits were all smooth although
at one point it appeared that the company had missed their moves with a little bit of
‘we’ve missed that, what shall we do?’ It was over quickly and most of the audience
wouldn’t have noticed it.

There were some very strong performances throughout the show, Anil Chakrabarti gave
a fine performance as John Wellington Wells and was really the star of the show, fine
physicality on stage and giving great facial features/expressions throughout, his vocals
were great both spoken and sung, he had a good stage relationship Alexis and Aline as
well as Sophie Mycock as young Hercules who gave a well drilled performance. I thought
that both James Bowman and Sharon Cutworth were well cast as the young lovers Alexis
and Aline, good strong voices and exuding a good relationship with each other as well as
interacting well with their respective parent, James had a good stage presence matched
by Sharon and they gave us a very good leading couple. Both Steve Scales as Sir
Marmaduke and Andy Hiles as Dr Daly gave strong performances with good
characterisation as an elderly Baronet (father of Alexis) and the elderly Village Vicar
respectively again good singing voices, clear and well heard.

Julie Bjerregaard as Lady Sangazure gave her usual strong performance, her little looks
and movement brought to life the memories of an earlier relationship with Sir
Marmaduke and her movement on stage is good to watch, she holds the stage well. We
saw in Jess Bowman a fine performance as Constance who performed well as a love-
struck young woman, giving us the early numbers of the show, firstly with Judith
Semmons as her mother Mrs. Partlett and then her own number.

The show moved with pace, singing and harmonies were good and we had the usual
patter song. This show is one of the less popular operettas but it deserves to be seen.
Like most people G&S is an acquired taste but this was a pleasant show and deserved to
be seen by more people.

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