No 6 -- April 1977 Edited by Michael Walters
TWO NIGHTS OF CHAOS (KAOS)
On Tuesday 22 February 1977, Kingsbury Amateur Operatic Society (KAOS) gave a concert to the G & S Society under the title "Let KAOS come again". In true Gilbertian fashion the opera being given that night by D'Oyly Carte at Sadlers Wells Theatre was Princess Ida from which the quote comes. The Society gave a very full programme of excerpts from every production they had done, which ran as follows:- The Mikado; Opening Chorus; So please you Sir (sung as Quintette); Braid the Raven Hair. Merrie England; Love is meant to make us glad; Waltz Song. The Zoo; Bun Quartette & Finale. The Chieftain; Dolly's Song, Trio (Grigg, Vasquez & Rita); Disguised Song (Act 2) Inez & Brigands; Sextette-We quite understand. Princess Ida; The world is but; To yield at once; Whene'er I spoke. Martha; The Last Rose of Summer; M'Appari. Trial by Jury; Comes the broken flower. Iolanthe; In vain to us you plead; Young Strephon is the kind of lout. Salad Days; Farewell. Patience; Duke's Song; Long years ago (both verses)! I hear the soft note. Free as Air; Let the Grass Grow under your Feet. La Vie Parisienne: Finale Act 2. The Sorcerer; Lady Sangazure's Song (setting by Peter Ward); I rejoice that its decided; Oh I have wrought, with following recit (also set by Peter Ward); Happy are we in our loving frivolity. Orpheus in the Underworld: Aristeus's Song; Laughing Chorus; Behold me alone and neglected; The King of the Beotians; Cherchez la femme. The Rose of Persia (forthcoming production) 'Neath my lattice; With measured gait (Finale Act 1); If you or I; Sultan's Song; Finale Act 2. Victor Golding introduced.
The following night I went to see Princess Ida at the Wells; and it proved to be a night of chaos (not Kaos). At half past eight, just after Lady Blanche had said her line "It's not, it's right enough" the curtain fell, and we were informed that there had been a phone call reporting a bomb. We all left the theatre, cast and audience mingling and milling outside, and it was half past nine before we were allowed back. The performance resumed with the entrance of the three men, and their opening lines "Gently, gently, evidently, we are safe so far" inevitably brought a round of applause. I think this will be an anecdote to be quoted in G & S circles for many years to come, like Richard Walker's famous doodlebug line.
DOUGLAS BLAKE on PRINCESS IDA The Stage, 24 Feb. 1977.
"… The opening tableau, with its exotic scenery, costumes & make-up, was remarkably like the spectacular finale of a Palladium finale, and much of what followed was along the same lines … the music has no particular character of its own, sounding rather as if it could be used for, or taken from, almost any other G & S work... it has no recognisable overall style to give it musical character .... Barbara Lilley has not quite the stature for the title role, but she sings prettily, and there is an interesting young tenor in Meston Reid, whose light, clear-toned voice is a desirable asset to the company".
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