No 6 -- April 1977 Edited by Michael Walters
OXFORD UNIVERSITY G & S. SOCIETY - THE GONDOLIERS June 1976
[Our man in Brixham, Dave Taylor, on a rare visit to civilisation, caught this production, and sent me a programme with some random comments scribbled on it, which I here reproduce.]
Enjoyable, enthusiastic, full of life. Not a traditional performance, but done without ad libs. DUKE (Robert Aitken) Nicely played part. Producer could have made more of height difference with Duchess. DON AL. (Bob Pacey) Best characterisation. Singing voice too soft. MARCO and GIUSEPPE (Tim Garland and Michael Joyce) Different & complementary, voices a little light but good characterisation. CASILDA (Elizabeth Cope) Best singing voice. Made the best of a not very outstanding Gilbert creation. TESSA (Nancy Ringham) Best overall principal, even with the American accent, acting and stage presence good. Radiated confidence. INEZ (Diane Parker) A small but essential part, well played. HIGHLIGHTS: In a contemplative fashion; Cachucha. MUSIC: Ensemble singing V. good, tempi were inclined to be pedestrian, but not disastrously so. Conductor (David Flood) had a good control of pit and stage and coped with difficult moments very professionally. There was no justification for encore of "Sparkling Eyes", or Duchess in Act 2. [Sorry Dave, 1 couldn't read the rest!]
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