No 13 — July 1979 Edited by Michael Walters
IOLANTHE, Streatham Hill O.S., Stanley Halls, 11 November 1978.
This proved to be a very enjoyable performance ? as witness the fact that I did stay till the end ? quite a rare occurrence with amateur G&S these days!!! The Overture was a chaotic affair, it got there, but only just with the woodwinds tying themselves into knots in the counterpoint section (O foolish fay). Visually the opening to Act 1 was beautiful. The scenery had cascades at the back giving it all a Walt Disney "Alice in Wonderland'' air. The chorus fairies were in cobalt and turquoise, and the three principal fairies in rose pink negligees. They all looked exceedingly elegant, pastel shades are undoubtedly what is necessary to give the necessary fantastic and gossamer effect. Fleta (Jeannie Hossel) was played as a take?off of Fenela Fielding, Leila (Mary Burnett) had a Yorkshire accent and came over rather like a female version of Alan Titchmarsh. The Fairy Queen (Ann Mattey) was dressed in white, cream and peach with rows of frills rather like a gigantic lamp shade. Her wand was a huge yellow rose and she played the part rather like Danny La Rue. Iolanthe (Fay Reed) appeared through the cascades at the back, which were gauze. Strephon (David Shepherd) was in a rather loud costume, with a bright lime?green coat faced in gold ? rather like a Sevres figure gone wrong. He played the part in a rather overdone Lancastrian accent. He had a curious, constricted voice, which was not pleasant. Some dirty?minded member of the audience guffawed loudly at the line "a fairy member, that would be delightful." Phyllis (Patricia Barber) was dressed in pearl grey and dark rose pink. She had a very pretty voice and an easy stage style. The Peers wore apricot satin robes, which looked beautiful (though of course not accurate). They were not capable of producing much sound, though the basses won hands down over the tenors. The Chorus was a lethargic affair, nobody, peers, orchestra nor conductor, seemed to be able to instill much enthusiasm into it. The Lord Chancellor (Arthur Howerd) was a bouncy old man, who couldn't sing at all, but spoke to the music. He couldn't act either, and woffled his way through his dialogue, achieving nothing. He was very tedious, and had no idea how to say dialogue, or to phrase anything. I think he must have been trying to be Arthur Askey (he was about the same size and build) but without succeeding. He got lost in the last verse of "Said I to myself" and had to take a prompt. The Producer Paul Skelton had thought things out well and the production worked extremely well. One particularly nice and original point was that on the line "an affidavit from a thunderstorm", Strephon made a gesture to the sky and a clap of thunder shock the heavens. When he continued "or a few words on oath from a heavy shower" the Lord Chancellor made a restraining gesture as if to say, "we can do without one of those thank you." Tolloller (Roger Barber) had a fine, evenly placed voice, Mountararat (Howard James) did not quite measure up to him. He had a good voice, but it was not quite up to "When Britain", and he had no stage presence or manner. Nor had he much idea of phrasing or breathing. His manner was a bit "twee". For the Act 1 finale the Peers appeared with moving bushes. The Fairy Queen by this time seemed less like Danny la Rue and more like a cross between Joan Sims and Hattie Jacques, delivering her lines in a unique sexy style. Act 2 was set on the Embankment of South Bank, with those curious globular lights flanked with fish. Tolloller & Mountararat were in morning suits, which was surely wrong? Private Willis (Frank Puleston) was of the 1st Welsh Guards and spoke with a Welsh accent. He was very good. Phyllis wore an apricot evening dress, and her line "Don't suppose its because I care for Strephon" was said to an impassive and unreacting Willis. All in all, a delightful evening, the main impression was one of elegance and gentle pastel colours. Now, if only the DOC production had been in rose pink and silver or Eau?de?Nil and silver (or anything except black and silver) it would have been delightful too! MICHAEL WALTERS
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