Our Buxton show

Click the image for a PDF of the programme

Eventually we made it onto the St John’s stage – this link fills the time before the performance – and our show was under way!

It’s rather difficult to be both on-stage and taking photographs of what’s happening – think, “Besides, I don’t see how a man can cut off his own head” – so we’re very grateful to Pennie Ingram, Communications Officer for The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Sussex, for permission to use the pictures she took during our performance.

Pennie also wrote this review:

Premièred last year at Carnegie Hall … Dunfermline!, this clever new work created by Linda Milne with music, including overture, arranged by William Campbell, has the backstory in Act I of how Sally (Lunn, the Plaintiff) and Richard (Dauntless, the Defendant) came to find themselves in the Trial by Jury court by Act II.

Under the baton of MD Eddie MacLennan, and with James Hendry accompanying on piano, it featured numbers from several in the G&S canon. There was plenty for the busy and enthusiastic chorus, in an array of costumes to do, which held the packed audience’s attention as we didn’t know what to expect. They also had to negotiate the different setting in St John’s church, but everyone looked like they were having fun.

Act I Scene I: is in Sally’s village, where a local dignitary opens her “Sally Lunn” catering amid rejoicing, but turns her thoughts to where Richard might be.

Scene 2: on board the bustling cruise liner MV Pinafore, Captain Richard and First Officer Henry decide to return home and find Sally.

Scene 3: Sally and Richard are reunited and married. Enter passenger Katisha, who believes Richard loves her and so wreaks vengeance, while newly-wed Sally, feeling betrayed, takes Richard to court.

Everyone was in fine voice and well done to those dual role-ing, and for remembering not to sing the original words! There was some lovely singing from the principals, too many to mention, but highlights were:

Eric Brown (Dr Daly) “Time was when Love and I were well acquainted” (The Sorcerer);
Jennifer Murray Smith (Sally) and Sinead Beveridge (Angela) “Long years ago” (Patience);
Theo Rankine-Fourdraine (Richard) and Kenneth Maciver (Henry) “You understand?” (Ruddigore);
Jennifer and Theo “Ah, leave me not to pine” (The Pirates of Penzance).

Act II: is a slightly modified (name changes – no Angeliiiina, and extra songs) Trial by Jury.

Richard finds himself in a “Here’s a how-de-do!” and threatens suicide. Sally crumbles with “Oh, here is love”, while Katisha laments “The hour of gladness is dead and gone”.

And the icing on the (wedding) cake was an appearance from former member of the New D’Oyly Carte, Frances McCafferty as Katisha. Also the honorary President of DGASS, her rich, full-bodied timbre (“Oh fool, that fleest”) and stage presence, was tail-lashing! And with that the Judge declares “I’ll marry Katisha myself!” and it was “Off to the banquet we press” with the encore…

Well done, one and all!

And grateful thanks to Pennie for her encouragement!