1993, The Yeomen of the Guard
The Yeomen of the Guard - rehearsals
Plans for 1993 were made by the executive just before Christmas and Ruth Richter was appointed as director for the Gilbert and Sullivan production, The Yeomen of the Guard. Dianne was to be approached about producing and it was hoped that Lisa would choreograph again.
Auditions for The Yeomen of the Guard were held early in March, well before chorus rehearsals began. Most roles were filled by familiar faces, but some of the younger members were given opportunities to share their talents. Darren Rosenfeld and Simon Newnham were cast as Leonard Merryl and the Second Yeoman respectively, while Martin King was to play the Lieutenant. Major roles were gained by Mavis Ford (Elsie Maynard), Ellen Hundley (Phoebe), Judith O'Shea (Dame Carruthers), Michael Try (Colonel Fairfax), David Cox (Jack Point), Rod Gorfine (Wilfred Shadbolt) and Graham Ford (Sergeant Merryl). Smaller roles were filled by Jenni Williams (Kate) and Allan Luke (First Yeoman).
The Yeomen of the Guard - performances
Show Program
Despite a shorter lead time than for last year's show, Yeomen was well prepared and ready for the charity performance early in July. Les's impressive sets and backdrop of the Tower of London were an important feature of the show, and the costumes, organised by Marilyn Billing and Andrea Fitzgerald, were most colourful and appropriate for the period in which the show is set. Lighting was well managed by Alf Lee and Dick Hayes, while Diane Morgan took on the unenviable role of ticket secretary. Once again a number of children were an integral part of the show, appearing as Jack Point's apprentices and the children of various citizens. The Diamond Valley Singers is truly a family company.
Opening night brought an audience of only seventy, but it was a good performance. On that night and others Graham's "game" leg was a source of much comment, especially as some noticed that he didn't seem to be able to decide which leg was the problem one. At least he got plenty of sympathy from people who weren't in the "know". Audience numbers improved as the season progressed, as did their response. Rod Gorfine, as Shadbolt, managed to steal the show every time, particularly when, on one occasion, he managed to upend the garden seat on which he was perched. Shadbolt is often played as a "nasty", but Ruth chose a much more sympathetic interpretation. This extended Rod's drama skills beyond anything he had done before.
While there was plenty of comedy in The Yeomen of the Guard, the work is the most serious of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. This was highlighted by the dramatic atmosphere of the "execution" scene, complete with scaffold, hooded axeman and tolling bell, and the extraordinary pathos of the final scene where Jack Point falls senseless after the loss of Elsie Maynard to Colonel Fairfax. The nature of the work made it one of the most challenging, but perhaps the most rewarding of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire.
Except for Patience and The Sorcerer, Diamond Valley Singers had now performed all the major Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire. Quite an achievement!
These history notes have been kindly provided by our long-term artistic director and co-founder, Graham Ford.