The Yeomen of the Guard

EUCMS’ performance of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Yeomen of the Guard had a very strong Community Theatre feel throughout all aspects of the production. The limitations of the stage space and orchestra area of Eastwood Uniting Church Hall didn’t deter the company from using a cast of 28 performers, which filled the Hall with a very full sound at all times but also ensutred a crowded stage in the ensemble scenes.

Set in the Tower of London in the 16^th Century, Colonel Fairfax played by a strong Singer /Actor (Jonathan Borg) has been sentenced to death, charged with Sorcery - but as we find out later, by someone who will inherit a fortune if Fairfax dies unmarried. He’s befriended by Sergeant Meryll of the Guards and his daughter Phoebe (Andrew McCalpine and Caroline Reddel), who devise a plan to help Fairfax escape. Unaware of these plans, Fairfax explains his predicament to the Lieutenant of the Tower (James Ogg), who undertakes to find him a wife, strolling player Elsie Maynard (Suzanne Chin), who accepts the offered payment for the brief marriage, being in need of money to help her sick mother. Fellow player, Jester Jack Point, played with an abundance of energy by Gordon Costello, is in love with Elsie , but goes along with the plan as the groom will be dead in an hour.

Phoebe steals the keys to Fairfax’s cell from her admirer, the jailer Shadbolt (a stand out performance from Clive Hobson with a Cockney accent). The freed Fairfax is disguised as Meryll’s son and a new guard. News of the escape sees Jack in despair, while Elsie, realising her predicament, faints as the Act One Curtain closes.

Nursed back to health by Dame Carruthers, The Tower’s Housekeeper (Cathy Bulfin), Elsie reveals in her sleep that she has married Fairfax, to the amazement of Carruthers. Fairfax, still parading as Merryl’s son, secretly discovers that his bride is actually none other than the lovely, weeping Elsie. Jack and Shadbolt concoct a story of Fairfax’s is death, leaving the way clear for Jack to propose to the apparently widowed Elsie. But the disguised Fairfax woos Elsie, leaving both Jack and Phoebe out of luck in love. Phoebe reveals to Shadbolt that her ‘brother’ is Fairfax in disguise and is then obliged to marry him for his silence. Dame Carruthers overhears this too, so Sergeant Meryll proposes to keep her quiet.

Meryll weds Carruthers, and Shadbolt marries Phoebe. Elsie is set to marry Meryll’s son, she thinks, when the Lieutenant announces that Fairfax is alive and has been reprieved. The tremulous Elsie discovers to her delight that her husband and her intended are one and the same. All are happy excepting poor Jack Point, left alone, with his beloved married.

There are some fantastic numbers in this operetta - “I have a song to sing, O”, sung by Jack Point and Elsie, my favourite “Hereupon we’re both agreed” performed by Jack and Shadbolt and the duet “Rapture Rapture” for Carruthers and Meryll.

Some of the vocals would have benefitted from clearer diction, as I’m sure I missed some great lyrics. If there’s a lack of chemistry between some of the characters who were meant to be in love, that certainly wasn’t the case with Shadbolt’s convincing enduring love for Phoebe, or her equally passionate disgust for him. Overacting some performers could have been pulled back to make their characterisations more believable.

The single set for this production was very colourful and creative. I also liked the Guards’ entrance from the foyer and the levels it created. I was very distracted, however, by a crew member coming on stage in blacks and moving props etc., which could just as easily and effectively have been done by cast in costume.

It’s good to see Community Theatre groups like Eastwood using the space they have to the best of their ability, though maybe smaller shows would work better, with Little Shop in October/November seeming a good choice for the venue.

James Russell