Naturally Elementally – 5

Ellen invites us all to Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society’s Spring concert at 3.00pm on Sunday 24 March in the Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy. Their pleasant and varied programme includes Finlandia (Sibelius), Pale Blue Dot (a trumpet concerto) (Gourlay), Land of Mountain and the Flood (McCunn), Diversions on a Theme by Dr Arne (Cedric Thorpe-Davie), Thunder and Lightening Polka (Strauss), and Star Wars (Williams). Details by clicking the image.

What NODA thought …

Susan Kennedy, Regional Representative for District SC10, attended our Saturday matinée and reported on behalf of NODA:


As my first visit to Dunfermline to review a show this proved to be an enjoyable experience.

Although G&S this show had a modern feel and setting. The concept of a village hall and its users along with a group of dancers made it pertinent to today. Do you believe in Fairies? I certainly do! Combined with dialogue adapted to events of the time and modern dress the whole worked well. This is a funny story and was played with an emphasis on humour. Although dialogue and setting were adapted the music and singing were pure G&S.

I felt that the singing was of an excellent standard. All the principals were strong with many exceptional solos, duets and trios all performed within character. The chorus certainly handled the harmonies with style and complemented the principals. Well done to all, the band and your musical director, Eddie.

The group of dancers added a new dimension and were cleverly used more than once in Act 1. This was a clever production, carefully thought out to maximise impact without complicated set changes and furniture shifting with costume changes on stage. Well done Michael.

The experience was completed by the front of house staff set up as the W.I. of Thanolie selling raffle tickets and home-made goodies.

Thank you all for your hospitality.

 

 

In the Press!


Do head to your local outlet and buy a copy of this week’s (7 March) Dunfermline Press! Apart from the usual local news – and the paper is always interesting – this week on p26 you’ll find a full-page spread about our production of Iolanthe, illustrated with some excellent photographs by Dave Wardle. Rave reviews! It’s the same positive article about the Society that you’ll find at this link, but it’ll fit more easily in your scrapbook!

We loved it!

Iolanthe was great fun for everyone, whether in the audience, in the orchestra pit, on the stage or behind the scenes, and we’re all sad that it’s over. In due course there will be a show archive page: meanwhile, you can enjoy reading the programme which will reveal a great deal about Michael Scott’s fresh vision for our production, a play-within-a-play, where the villagers of “Thanolie” meet at the village hall during an unexpected clash of bookings. The ladies of the Women’s Institute, having been inspired by the members of the dance class to discover their “fairy selves”, enlist their men-folk, and act out the story that Gilbert devised, though with some of the lyrics adapted to poke fun at more modern events and people.

The show was brilliant!


To quote an email received by your webmaster this morning, following the opening night: “The show was brilliant! A clever new take on an old favourite!”.  Posts on one of our Facebook pages include: “What a great fun production and fantastic singing!” and “We had a lovely night watching you all having so much fun on stage.”

You have just three more opportunities to share the fun: tonight at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm. See the top of the page for more details. We look forward to hearing your applause and seeing you in the Tiffany Lounge after the evening shows.

Sorry there are no pictures of the set … we wouldn’t want you to see the details of our “clever new take” before you get to the theatre!

Invitation in the Dunfermline Press

The cast of Iolanthe assembled in Limekilns Parish Church ready for a run-through … giving Dave Wardle some big smiles!

Good to see Sunday’s picture taken by Dave Wardle appearing as the first item in today’s Dunfermline Press briefing. Do go to the original post, which has more pictures of our noble lords and delightful fairies! Or read the article on p23 of today’s issue, which as always comes with lots of other local news and features.

We ran Iolanthe again last night, and enjoyed Michael Scott’s rather different take on an old favourite. Looking forward to next week’s run at the Carnegie Hall, starting a week tonight!
If you haven’t yet booked, do click the link at the top of the page to buy a ticket, though you can just turn up at the door (evenings 7:30pm; Saturday matinée at 2:30pm).

Viva l’amore (long live love)

Our friends at Opera Caledonia invite us to an evening of romantic operatic classics and song, complemented by fine wine and chocolates, at 7.30pm–9.00pm on Wednesday 14 February, at the Institut français d’Écosse, Edinburgh. Featuring Judith Howarth, soprano, with Derek Clark at the piano.

Limited tickets at £15 available via Eventbrite.

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Next appearance

We hope to announce a summer concert shortly, but your next chance to see the Society on stage at Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline will be on 20–22 February 2025.

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