No 13 — July 1979 Edited by Michael Walters
RUDDIGORE, 6 April 1979, College AOS at NE. London Polytechnic.
This company is unfamiliar with G&S; past productions including Oliver, Camelot, Brigadoon & Guys and Dolls at which they are better. The orchestra were pleasing and produced a good sound but were hampered by the MD Geoffrey Timms, who seemed bored with the opera throughout, and much of the orchestra's work was done without his aid. Robin (Roger Snape) had a pleasing baritone and it made a change to hear the part sung rather than spoken. However, he became very static during his speeches and when waiting for his next line he ceased to be Robin and became Roger Snape waiting for his next line ? and he fluffed a fair number of those. Richard (Alan Saville) was miscast. He must have been at least 55 and was not a tenor. When he spoke, his nautical accent was so thick that his dialogue became unintelligible. He walked through the hornpipe, a great sin in my books! Sir Despard was an improvement although when he spoke or sang he never looked at any other member of the cast, but stared at the stage. I came away convinced that his lines were written on the floor. Old Adam (Leon Davidson) gave a highly amusing performance, in spite of it being a short role. Sir Roderic (Nigel Leonard) also gave a good performance, being the possessor of a fine bass voice, a strong acting ability, and very expressive hands which conveyed a ghostly evilness which was quite eerie. Rose (Joan Goodman) had a pleasing voice but seemed to be more of a mezzo than a true soprano. Mad Margaret (Carol Davidson) did not have a voice, but had a very good way of disguising the fact. Her acting was excellent and she won the audience from beginning to end. Dame Hannah (Joyce Saville) had an articulate speaking voice but an immobile body, rather like a Greek urn [Oh Keats, thou should be living at this hour. Ed.] She sang well in her top register but spoke nearly all her lower notes. Zorah and Ruth did what they could but never really convinced that they were professional bridesmaids. The producer, Donald Munro, tried to give an original interpretation but it proved rather empty, it was untraditional without being original. The costumes were pleasing but the gents' hats seemed all to be either too big or too small. The first act set was dull, the second better ? though when the picture frames were open you could see the stage props and weights. I can do no better than sum?up in the words of one lady whom I heard to say "just tragic". JAMES SKEGGS
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