York Theatre Royal – 7 April 2017. Reviewed by Marcus Richardson
Patience is an English Opera by the renowned and historical figureheads Gilbert and Sullivan, the performance can be described as an aesthetic opera. English Touring Opera is taking this show as part of a double bill with Tosca. It came to York over the weekend and had one performance at the York Theatre Royal.
The Opera was set in 1881 and follows the poet Reginald Bunthorne (Bradley Davis) and a milkmaid Patience (Luci Briginshaw), while he can have any woman we want as he is deeply loved by all around him he chooses to love the simple milkmaid, who claims she can never love someone as she had never done before. The story is very easy to watch and had a lot of lighter moments so you don’t have to get to involved; so you can sit back and appreciate the gayness, as they like to say.
As far as the acting, and equally singing goes, I loved pretty much all of it, all the singing was such a pleasure to watch, you could get lost is some of their voices as they were so mesmerising. One of the best aspects was the ensemble of maidens and dragoons who gave the performance a great comical aspect and their vocals as a group fill the whole theatre and gave a powerful moment one stage. I loved the dragoons wackiness with each other as they were a bit foolish and a far as the maidens go let’s just say lovesick could never be so funny to watch.
The stage had a simple touch to it but as it was an extravagant performance it was graced with these arches with statues behind them that brought this beauty to the performance. Another thing that I loved about the visual aspect was the costumes as they were amazing to look at especially on the poets and maidens.
Now you can never go to the opera without talking about the orchestra, which I have to say it, they were superb and blew me away. Conducted by Timothy Burke, who ensured that the cast and orchestra stayed in time and worked together. I loved the music and everyone performed amazingly. As far as lyrics go as well they were one of the strongest points of the Opera and the prime point of this is when the Lady Jane (Valerie Reid) sung about her figure and age.
If you have never been to the opera, go and see this show as it’s easy to get into with its English language and light story, if you’re a seasoned operatic viewer go and see this show as it something you will enjoy. It had such a simple and pleasant story that you will leave feeling bliss and entertained. If you’re afraid that you may feel going to the opera is a chore, it’s not, it is an experience that I am glad to say “I’ll go and see it again and again”