Thursday May 27 1982
Musical of the Halcyon Days The Quaker Girl by Lionel Monckton: Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society, |
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This musical belongs to the halcyon days of stage glamour when the overall presentation was the topmost priority. Thus Lionel Monckton has conjured up a marvellous piece of make-believe with exiled princesses, time-warped Quakers and playboy princes, all of whom lend themselves perfectly to the lush romantic treatment. It has an easy-on-the-ear score with pleasant lilting melodies that carry the action smoothly on from one set piece to another. And this production has obviously lavished a good deal of tender loving car on making the show look good, revelling in the contrasts posed between the simplicity of the Quaker community and the finery of fashion-conscious Paris. The one respect in which the production falters is in the emphasis it gives to the plot. The storyline may be rather incidental to the appeal of the piece but there is quite a bit of it. And the company does not always give the impression that they can follow the little intrigues of the plot, especially in the second act, which makes it an even harder task for the audience. Despite this there are plenty of carefully drawn characterisations among the principals, Sue Asplin is a very likeable, convincing Prudence, the young Quaker facing the delights of freedom, and there are excellent comic contributions from Dennis Duro as another fallen Quaker, and by Joan Francis, as his true love, Phoebe. Performances continue until Saturday. Judith Boyd
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