Festival Theatre, Malvern – 8th September 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
Gilbert & Sullivan’s masterpiece The Yeomen of the Guard (1888) is set in the Tower of London in the 16th Century, it tells the story of Colonel Fairfax, due to be executed within the hour. He marries gypsy Elsie Maynard to prevent his posthumous estate from going to his accuser. Elsie’s lover, Jester Jack Point, is content to allow this arrangement as Fairfax will soon be dead, but when the prisoner escapes all manner of skulduggery ensues.
Around the time of the opera, composer Sullivan was exploring more mature styles and you can sense this from the outset as the overture isn’t just a mere preview of the show’s tunes but a fine classical composition in its own right. The orchestra was tight, sonorous and played with elan under the expert direction of conductor Murray Hipkin.
The curtain rose revealing a set of impressive grandeur, coupled with lavish costumes it was a feast for the senses and at once transported us to that era; as did the faux Shakespearean dialogue.
I have seen many a G&S and the opening chorus has certainly been a feature but this work, unusually, opens with Phoebe (Meriel Cunningham) alone. Her voice had an ageless beauty and she excelled at the dramatic too – this young starlet has the lot. Being G&S there were a multitude of principals and the next soon appeared; Wilfred Shadbolt (Matthew Siveter). A powerful voice and an acting talent that had impressive range, I loved Shadbolt’s interactions with other characters throughout. Both these wonderful leads comic timing during the key stealing scene was impeccable with sidelong and surprised glances and that last line in “Were I thy bride”… Hilarious! All of the cast were exceptional but I’ll just highlight two – Fairfax (Stephen Anthony Brown) being a fine leading man with a commanding presence and requisite range from stoic to selfish (via befuddled and overjoyed) and Point (Simon Butteriss) who had more than a glorious touch of Austin Powers about him. I found his scenes later on with Shadbolt particularly amusing, an odd couple caught in events giving them common goals. The Chorus was nothing short of wonderful all night, they added much to the action and produced an impressively massive sound for the key dramatic moments, the finales being particularly stunning.
Act 2 gave us many highlights of the show. I adored Fairfax teaching Point to woo, where it all started unravelling for two of our leads. But it was the aria “Strange Adventure!” that was the absolute zenith of the evening’s entertainment. Mighty impressive composing (an acappella quartet with orchestral interludes) and sublime singing (from Fairfax, Sergeant Meryll (Bruce Graham), Dame Carruthers (Gaynor Keeble) and Kate (Phoebe Smith)) which was most affecting! Worth the price of the ticket to hear that alone!
Yeomen has been called the “darkest” of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operas; with some justification thanks to a tragic ending. Our director (Buttriss) wrought every last ounce of emotion from the work and his character (Point). Truly heartbreaking and painfully realistic. I highly recommend you see it and one I know I will again (and again). Bravo to all concerned.