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"The Yeomen of the Guard" Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society. The Civic Hall, Trowbridge. May. Director Paul Butler. The stage at the Civic Hall presents problems, as it is very wide and shallow. Director Paul Butler overcame this by having a thrust stage extending some way into the auditorium with the audience at the front and one side, and the orchestra placed at the other side. Only a small area of the stage proper was used, and scenery was limited to white screens at the back of this on which were ravens, and these together with lighting adequately created the right atmosphere. The Director was well served by the cast, and particularly so by Elsie (Viv Luckett), and Fairfax (Sean Andrews), both well suited both physically and vocally for their roles. Good performances too from Phoebe (Tina Foxon), Jack Point (Richard Rawlings) and Shadbolt ( Clive James). Glanville Davis looked fine as Sergeant Meryll, though he seemed rather ill at ease in the role in early scenes, and though he acquitted himself well I felt Mike Kemp could have brought more aristocratic bearing to the role of Sir Richard Cholmondeley. There was a fine performance from Joan Francis as Dame Carruthers, and the chorus scenes were very impressive. Altogether this was a production which was full of energy and attention to detail and was very warmly received by the first night audience.
Derek Burrow |