Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society.

" The Gondoliers " November 2002.

Written in 1889, this was Gilbert & Sullivan's last great success.

Full of tuneful melodies and the usual foolish plot this should be, and was, a riot of colour, assisted by the two imaginative sets, cleverly designed arid constructed by the Director Gwynne Evans.

The thirteen piece orchestra was nicely balanced and- suited the power of the singing very well.

The costumes from Bath Theatrical Costume Hire were bright and fresh and were complementary to the whole affect.

The chorus were lively and full of animation and their rendering of "Dance a Cachucha" was almost a show stopper.

All the characters were well cast and portrayed and there were several quite outstanding performances. The Duke of Plaza-Toro, Phil Courage, delighted the audience with his foppish mannerisms and Edward Harper, with his excellent voice and uncontrollable attraction for women produced much laughter. Patricia Davies as The Duchess sang well and had just the right amount of haughtiness to made the part believable and a good foil for the Duke to play on. Casilda, Viv Luckett, really came into her own with Sean Andrews as Luiz in "0 Rapture, When alone Together" and "There was a Time". Ian Bell as Marco sang "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" extremely well and Sam Stevens played his brother Giuseppe with a self-confidence way beyond his years. I was most impressed with his performance and singing. Director Gwynne Evans had certainly maintained the high reputation this Society enjoys.

Alec J. Ruddick.
NODA Regional Representative