Aberdeen Gilbert & Sullivan Society marks its 48th year with its production of The Yeoman and the Guard at the beautiful Tivoli Theatre this week.
The Tower of London is the setting for Gilbert & Sullivan’s beloved operetta, The Yeomen of the Guard. The arrival of a travelling troupe of performers sparks forbidden romances, fantastical plots and unrequited love. It’s full of delightful tunes including ‘I have a song to sing, O’, ‘When a Wooer goes a-Wooing’, and ‘Strange Adventure’.
Many believe that the score is Sullivan’s finest. Indeed, some enjoy Yeomen particularly because of its ever-changing emotional balance of joy and despair, love and sacrifice. This company fills the theatre with the gorgeous music to perfection, balanced well with their orchestra placed upstage behind the action.
The cast supplies a huge vocal talent and great potential within this production.
Edward Dickens uses his fantastic boom of a voice and good characterisation while playing the sleazy womanising Colonel Fairfax.
Jenny Ward’s Elsie Maynard is ditzy and loveable. Ward’s talented vocals fill the auditorium, reaching unimaginable heights.
Ross McKensie makes great use of facial expression as Sergeant Meryll, alongside smooth vocals that blend perfectly alongside Amanda Haggart’s sumptuous Dame Carruthers. Haggart emotes perfectly throughout dialogue and music as she effortlessly steals scenes with her reactions and onstage presence. The duo make a hilarious pair, especially during ‘Rapture! Rapture!’ as, to get away with his scheme, Meryll resignedly buys Carruther’s silence with an offer of marriage.
Steph Walker provides some simply sublime vocals and great physicality as Phoebe Meryll. Giving some hilarious moments when interacting with Gregor Cameron as Wilfred Shadbolt, who holds his own with perfect comic timing and fun characterisation.
Nathan MacAulay-Dicks as a strong and empathetic Sir Richard Cholmondely shines particularly with Matthew Hamilton’s Jack Point.
Matthew Hamilton is a highlight of this production. With explosive energy as Jack Point, Hamilton is captivating onstage as our lovesick court jester. The audience cannot help but root for the tragic fool, as Hamilton’s lively physicality and comic timing entertain and elevate scenes.
Portraying Leonard Meryll is Tim Riley. A brief appearance, but nonetheless Riley shines in dialogue alongside McKenzie and Walker.
Olivia Mackenzie Smith is a beautiful addition as Kate, serenading us through ‘Strange Adventure’ with great control.
Leading the ensemble with confidence and gusto as the 1st and 2nd Yeoman were Andrew Brebner and Laszlo Hosszu.
The ensemble brings the vocals to another level within this production, supplying powerful harmonies and an intense sound. The ensemble cast are as follows; Eve Begg, Shona Brown, Andrew Clubb, Derrick McClure, Carolyn Cowan, Anna Hamilton, Elaine MacDonald, Jan McRobbie, Amy Jane Mitchell, Christopher Milburn, Julia Porter, Conor Reid, Ailsa Reith, David Rennie, Tracey Stewart, 8Adam Warren, and Dai Warren.
Emily Scott does a good job as Director and Chair of the company, which is no mean feat to carry both titles. Unfortunately, the show seems to have suffered as it takes a long while to get its legs and there’s a lot of standing here and walking there. With the cast often looking lost onstage, searching for purpose and direction.
The musical numbers sound fantastic, but it seems a lack of blocking during the majority of them causes the production to feel clunky and stagnant at points.
Musical Director Brian Gunnee has put in the work to make this production sound sublime, balancing the contrast of the music itself to create a beautiful show. It’s always a risk having the band behind the action in any production, but it works well in this case. Allowing the audience to hear the cast without microphones in the gorgeous Tivoli Theatre, without drowning them with the orchestra. Providing a nice blend and balance to this production is quite the task, but they have pulled it off.
Border Studios and Aurora Scenic have provided a gorgeous stage. Stone walls and paned windows angled to bring the audience into the Tower of London. This set is only complimented by Donald Munro’s lighting and Utopia period-perfect costumes, complete with all the details of the Beefeater attire.
Aberdeen Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Yeoman of the Guard has the potential to be a lively and fun production. If the same love and attention was given to the action happening onstage that was given to the musical elements of this show, not only do I think that the production quality would be greatly improved but the confidence of its company actors.
The Yeoman of the Guard is running at the Tivoli Theatre on the 13th,14th & 16th March 2024.
Get your tickets here – https://thetivolitheatre.com/events/the-yeomen-of-the-guard/
Theatre Scotland 
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