Our next show …
Once upon a time there was a girl called Sally and a boy named Richard. They grew up as children together and became childhood sweethearts. Sally liked to help and watch her granny bake whilst Richard enjoyed playing with boats and anything nautical.
Did Richard follow his career path and go to sea?
What did Sally do with granny’s cookery book?
Can you mend a broken heart?
What happened that they ended up in court?
The Jury’s Out is a new work created by Linda D Milne with music arranged by William Campbell. It includes much-loved chorus numbers from The Sorcerer, HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers, The Mikado and ending with Trial by Jury.
Don’t miss out on joining us on the Carnegie Hall stage for the première of this new show, which is on 13–15 February 2025. We look forward to seeing you when we start back on Wednesday 28 August, even if you can’t make it to the the workshop at Limekilns on the afternoon of Sunday 19 May, when all will be revealed!
Summer concert dates
The summer concerts will be at 7.30pm on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September, both in the Dunfermline area … venues are being confirmed.
DGASS would love to have as many members/former and potential members as possible taking part. Even if you are not available, pass the message on. Lifts are available from Ferrytoll/Inverkeithing.
We are going to follow a similar rehearsal pattern to last year’s, rehearsing on most Wednesdays till the school holidays. We’ll top up on Sunday afternoons after we start back on 28 August (keeping Wednesdays for the main show rehearsals), but we shall use Wednesday 18 September as a concert rehearsal.
The first rehearsal will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday 24 April at Limekilns Parish Church (probably in the hall behind the Church, rather than the Church itself).
The programme will include songs from musicals – a list of music that is in the mix for performing (not yet set in stone) is below. Many of you have the sheet music at home from previous DGASS concerts, so please bring it on 24 April, or let Ellen know if you don’t have the music.
Selections from:
- My Fair Lady
- Show Boat
- Cats (including Memory)
- Oliver
plus
- Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast)
- I Believe/Ave Maria
- Anthem from Chess
- Grand Night for Singing (State Fair); It Might as Well be Spring (State Fair)
- Seasons of Love (Rent)
Our next show
Our plans for the next show are currently under wraps, but we can assure you that they’re exciting — another different take on G&S, following the success of Iolanthe. If joining us appeals, then book the afternoon of Sunday 19 May, and join us for the workshop at Limekilns, when all will be revealed, and you’ll be able to release the inner Thespian! To register an interest, please drop Ellen an email.
Naturally Elementally – 5
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.
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