The night I went - it was the last-but-one of the season - I was lucky. The sky was a bit overcast but there was no rain and my seat was well to the left of centre that is to say, Stage Right - so I had a good view not only of the stage backed by the splendid West wall of the Moat, but also of the North Wall as well. This was important because in the North Moat were the dressing rooms (also the refreshment tents); and the citizens came in performing antics - country dancing and the like - in that part of the Moat. And a wonderful moment when Leonard came galloping up with the reprieve. I hasten to add that David Fieldsend was not cast exclusively for his horsemanship. He played the rather unrewarding part excellently. Those on Audience Right would not have seen this. The finest part of the production was undoubtedly the backcloth. The Wooden stage is built up scaffold-like from the Moat at several levels with steps leading right up to the pinnacles; and the tower of the Chapel Royal of St. Peter-ad-Vinacula in the background. It is the bell of that Chapel which tolls for the execution of Colonel Fairfax, perfectly synchronized (if not attuned) with the orchestra. Next, for me, was the magnificent production, as in previous years, of Anthony Besch. The whole thing was spacious. I did not count, but there seemed to be about 30 yeomen a later look at the programme showed 26. Sergeant Meryll sang the 2nd Yeoman's solo "This the autumn of our life" as in the original score. The citizens, counting from the programme, were 26 girls and 10 men. I believe that they are always drawn from the various schools of Music and, quite apart from their singing, their acting was splendid. I watched from my vantagepoint and they invariably played their parts in the action without once protruding themselves. The groupings were good. For the major moments the Yeomen lined the stage and the staircase, interspersed with about eight Standard bearers, made a wonderful spectacle. One little point. When the Yeomen were lined across the stage (it must have been more than 100 ft wide) no one at one end could have seen one at the other, yet all their halberds were dressed exactly in line: and so were the Standards. One really has to admire attention to such details as these. As to the performances of the principals, I am really not qualified to speak. I thought some of the numbers were taken rather too slowly, but as I know nothing of music my opinion doesn't matter. Some acting I thought good; others adequate. Wilfred (Dennis Wicks) was excellent. He played the part in a country burr which was well in keeping. Phoebe I thought good and she made the key line (I always think it is a key line) “Whom thou hast just shot through the head" - excellently. It is a line which speaks for itself and to over-emphasize it (as the present D'Oyly Carte's tend to do) kills it completely. Della Jones did it perfectly. Who else? Well, Laureen Livingstone as Elsie has an impressive operatic background and sang equally impressively. As Jack Point, Tommy Steele was excellent as Tommy Steele. Altogether a rewarding evening. AIDAN EVANS

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