No 37 -- Summer 1991 Edited by Michael Walters
Alan Borthwick, by his own admission in the programme, had edited the text especially for the role of Julia. A very notable inclusion, and not altogether a good one, was the business with the Prince of Monte Carlo and his entourage before the Roulette Song. I feel sure this was merely to give the Prince something more to do, and it merely served to slow down the show too near the end. Also, the roulette wheel was trundled on no less than three times, including during an unnecessary reprise of the Roulette Song. Mr. Borthwick introduced a novel method of assisting the audience to understand the complicated plot by allowing his characters, who had just expounded the plotline, to step to the front of the stage and reiterate as a precis what they had just said. Some connoisseurs may have objected to this device, but the majority of the audience would have been totally unfamiliar with this story, and it did help to clarify the situations.
On the positive side, the two sets, designed by Alan Borthwick and company, were excellent and elicited applause. The costumes, too, were excellent, although the Grand Duke was too richly attired in black velvet. The Grecian shifts worn by the chorus in Act 2 were full length, thus avoiding the usual hilarious male leg show!
Maxwell Smart (Rudolph) was outstanding; tall and gaunt, he really looked "broken down", and he put put considerable venom into "You're a pretty kind of fellow". Maureen Anderson (Baroness) gave a spirited and interesting performance and her gradual inebriation in "Come bumpers" as she sat at a bar, was a highlight. Another with excellent diction was Ian Lawson (Tannhauser). Graham Addison (Ludwig) played with enthusiasm; Fiona Scrimger (Julia) breathed life into the character and had fun with her long solo. While singing "Tomorrow", she performed some bits of business; by snapping her fingers a fountain at the back turned on and off. There was also an errant spotlight which went its own way, compelling her to follow it until, at the end of "Tomorrow" she snapped her fingers and the light went out. Not original business [sounds rather gimmicky to me. MPW], but it kept the audience interested in an otherwise overlong two–song solo. Richard Bourjo (Prince of Monte Carlo) sang and acted well, but the addition of the extra business took away from, rather than enhanced this role. His Herald (Andrew J. Green) had taken a degree in the University of Funny Walks. James McKirdy (Ernest), Carol Vickers (Lisa) and Hazel Clarke (Princess) gave entertaining performances. The MD was David Lyle.
LINDA WOOD
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