home | accolade | articles | acting | festivals | guestbook | groups | greenroom | links | news | plays 1 productions | photos | quotes | reviews |
 |
 |
Bournemouth Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society Lighthouse Poole November 2003 Not only are they one of the few groups around to sing without body mikes - and yet be heard perfectly - but their singing and acting standards are consistently high and the orchestra, under musical director Jean Holt - is never less than superb. And it’s good to see in this production that there is a good mix of ages too, auguring well for the future. The story is sub-titled The Merryman and His Maid, and John Gerken (jester Jack Point) and Cherrill Ashford (‘maid’ Elsie Maynard) do great justice to their roles, as does Bruce Vyner as Elsie’s beloved, Colonel Fairfax. But I suspect the audience warmed the most to Michael Griffiths’ outstanding portrayal of the slow, lugubrious Wilfred Shadbolt and, in an excellent principal debut, Cathy Murray’s delightful Phoebe Meryll. Other roles are also well-played and chorus work, as ever, is strong – although somewhat spoiled at times by the over-acting of a small group of ‘crone’ characters that at times unacceptably diverted attention away from principal action. Next customers for the headsman, perhaps? Linda Kirkman Courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo |
