Yeomen of the Guard

PRODUCER: Marie Bullen
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Richard Bromley (assisted by Gillian Bromley)
PIANIST: Richard Bromley

Sir Richard Cholmondeley: Granville Tunnicliffe Wilson
Colonel Fairfax: Derek Bamber
Sergeat Meryll: George Leathard
Leonard Meryll: Tom Beck
Jack Point: David Towers
Wilfred Shadbolt: Sandy Lofthouse
First Yeoman: Melvin Parrington
Second Yeoman: Ken Pitchers
The Headsman: John Toder
Priest: John Hopkinson
Elsie Maynard: Angela Dixon
Phoebe Meryll: Helen Bullen
Dame Carruthers: Janet Thompson
Kate: Debbie Leadbeater

Hornby Occasionals' annual performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas never fail to entertain their loyal and enthusiastic audiences. This year's offering, The Yeomen of the Guard, was no exception. 'Yeomen', the programme note told us, 'is one of the more poignant works of Gilbert and Sullivan but still not lacking in the pointed wit and humour directed at society and human vanity'. The full range of these sentiments was displayed in a production rich in comic and tragic acting, melodious singing, well-choreographed movement, magnificent costumes and splendid scenery. Central to the plot is an agreement between strolling singer Elsie Maynard and soon-to-be-beheaded Colonel Fairfax to marry, solely to avoid the latter's estate passing to his adversary. Elsie, otherwise the intended of jester Jack Point, gains one hundred crowns on the understanding that she will become a widow within the hour. However, Fairfax is helped to escape, returning in disguise as one of the yeomen guards, and eventually falls in love with Elsie, though it takes most of Act 2 for his true identity to be revealed. As their union (and those of several other couples) is celebrated stage right, Jack Point dies broken-hearted stage left. All parties to this love triangle performed well. Angela Dixon (Elsie) was at her very best in the aria “ ‘Tis done! I am a bride” and Derek Bamber (Fairfax) displayed a strong tenor voice throughout. As Jack Point, David Towers excelled in his tragic-comic role, portrayed a vast range of emotion in his acting and singing, his final verse of “I have a song to sing, O” being particularly poignant. Strong supporting roles were played by Helen Bullen, Janet Thompson, Debbie Eala Rose, George Leathard, Sandy Lofthouse, Granville Tunnicliffe-Wilson and Tom Beck. Members of the chorus played roles as yeomen warders of the tower, citizens and dancers. The technical team, led by stage manager John Hopkinson, were efficient and skilled. Musical Director Richard Bromley had prepared the singers well; soloists and chorus alike sang confidently and accurately. He achieved the notable feat of conducting and accompanying simultaneously, a veritable one-man-band. His performance of the overture gave a great start to the evening. Producer Marie Bullen is to be congratulated on the high standard achieved. Her ambitious productions hum with vitality, and everyone on stage always has plenty of business in which to engage. The slickness with which this is realised is the consequence of thorough planning and rehearsal, and her performers clearly enjoy being part of such a lively society.

Tony Ewens