THE
GONDOLIERS
The
National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company
at
the Harrogate
International Centre
01.08.2015
The
opening production of the 22nd
Festival – three weeks of G&S from companies large and small
from far and near.
Not,
alas, in Matcham's Royal Hall, or in the equally delightful Harrogate
Theatre, but in the comfortable, capacious but irredeemably
corporate Harrogate
International Centre.
The
production, directed by John
Savournin,
was Gilbert and Sullivan as it used to be, before polymaths and
auteurs
were let loose on it. Traditional, predictable, enjoyable. The
most amusing thing, perhaps, was the cheeky knees-up for Regular
Royal Queen.
A
simple, “modern” set, an excellent orchestra [MD David Steadman],
a lively, smallish chorus, and some impressive soloists: Claire Lees
a brilliantly sung Giannetta, an impassioned Pair of Sparkling Eyes
from Robin Bailey's Marco.
The
character roles were played with assured style by Sylvia Clarke as
the domineering Duchess, Richard Gauntlett as her hen-pecked little
Duke, and Bruce Graham as Don Alhambra – a lubricious Grand
Inquisitor done up in a cardinal's costume [think George Melly as
Thomas Wolsey], nothing like an undertaker at all, it has to be said,
but great fun and a serious presence vocally.
No comments:
Post a Comment