No 45 Autumn 1997 Edited by Michael Walters
This was a great Yeomen, in fact, one of the very best I have ever seen! - well-rehearsed, thoughtfully produced. Alan C. Jones, long-time producer for The Savoy Club, and MD Bernard McDonald, put heart and soul into making this the best-ever Savoy Club show. As with The Orpheus Club, The Savoy Club have decamped from the King's, but their choice was for the 400-seater Mitchell Theatre. A warm, welcoming, comfortable little theatre with excellent sight-lines for all the audience, this move was a surprising success. There is no pit, but the orchestra were seated around the front of the stage and were unobtrusive. The scenery was excellent, with the Tower on the backdrop, the Tower houses on either side with steps up the middle of the stage. Brightly lit throughout, except when characters were "thinking to themselves", when the lights were dimmed to blue, a nice touch.
All the principals were outstanding. Fresh from his triumph as Lord Chancellor in the Buxton G&S Festival's production, David Craig consolidated his mastery of the G&S principal comedian roles as Point. His wife Celia played Dame Carruthers with an authority and depth of vocal scale, and their daughter Maureen portrayed Phoebe with a pert, straightforward manner that was refreshing and enjoyable. She has clear speaking and singing diction. Simon G. Boothroyd was a stunning Shadbolt! Unkempt, positively living with fleas (on one occasion, while standing near two Yeomen, he scratched his head and the Yeomen stepped back, looking down on the ground with disgust at what he had removed and, on another occasion he watched a flea walk, then jump, down his arm before it landed on his hand and he killed it!), his half-gormless, half cunning characterisation was at once attractive and repulsive! Even more repulsive (certainly for poor Phoebe!) was his habit of walking on with, and taking large bites out of, raw leeks! His "Cock and Bull" duet deserved an encore, but time was pressing! Always acting in character when on stage although not in the limelight, this was a portrayal to remember.
Elsie Maynard was played by blonde Wendy-Anne Duncan with elegance and style. Also of particular note was Walter Anderson's Fairfax. His vast theatrical experience enhanced the characterisation in a relaxed, easy-on-the eye and ear manner. Bob McCrum's Meryll and the rest of the cast were good. Nice pieces of individual business came at the entrance of Point and Elsie with a "dancing bear" (who embraced Point in an exuberant bear hug) and a girl juggler, who didn't drop a ball. After Point's death, the lights came up again on Elsie cradling the dead jester in her arms, then lights down and up to reveal Point standing alone, front of stage, the rest of the company with their backs to him, as he took his solitary bow. Lights down again and back up to reveal Point standing at the back of the stage behind the chorus, looking away as the rest of the cast took their bows. If the Savoy Club ever decide to enter this show at the Buxton Festival, they would take first prize.
LINDA C. WOOD
Web page created 25 July 1998