Wiltshire Times The Gondoliers Civic Hall, Trowbridge TROWBRIDGE Amateur Operatic Society, accompanied by a very proficient orchestra, gave a sparkling first night performance. Gilbert and Sullivan operettas revolve around babies exchanged or mixed in some way at birth and the complications that follow. In The Gondoliers the daughter of the impoverished Duke of Plaza-Toro, who has already given her heart to another, has been taken to Venice by her parents to meet the Prince of Barataria, to whom she was betrothed when both were infants. Two gondoliers are thrown into the muddle and amid much confusion true love finds a way and all ends happily ever after. The first act got us into the mood but it was Act II that seemed to romp home with more witticisms appreciated by the audience and a touch of the pantomime, managing to mention both the local superstore and `dot com' into a production written in 1889. All performances were excellent with accomplished intonations and inflections, and the tongue-twisting lyrics sung without a word out of place - a feat in itself. The singing and dancing was professional and with a cast of more than 30 on stage on some occasions elbow room was in short supply but never out of place. It would seem wrong to highlight any of the main characters over the others as they all gave such skilled performances but 17-year-old Sam Stevens, as one of the main gondoliers and on stage for the majority of the time, should have a mention along with Phil Courage, the Duke of Plaza-Toro. The latter's affection and simpering was well over the,top but fitted the part admirably. This jolly comic nonsense left the audience humming the tunes (but not necessarily knowing the words) well aware what local talent is all about. Rita Sangster
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