Iolante/The peer and the Peri, Castleford G&S Society

REPORT FROM NOEL RIGG (NODA REPRESENTATIVE)
HMS PINAFORE AND TRIAL BY JURY 2011

THIS WAS A TWO PART PRODUCTION. THE FIRST HALF WAS H.M.S. PINAFORE DONE IN MORE OF A CONCERT STYLE WITH A NARRATION OF THE PLOT BY GRAHAM WESTON. IT WAS WELL ORGANISED BY PRODUCER TREVOR BYE AND WE WERE TREATED TO SOME VERY FINE PORTRAYALS BY BOBBIE GREATOREX AS THE RT. HON. SIR JOSEPH PORTER K.C.B. AND BY DAVID PARKER AS CAPTAIN CORCORAN. THE SECOND HALF WAS TRIAL BY JURY AND AGAIN WELL PRODUCED BY GRAHAM WESTON WITH ALL THE PRINCIPALS GIVING EXCELLENT PERFOMANCES. IT MUST BE VERY HARD TO REHEARSE TWO SHOWS AT THE SAME TIME BUT I THINK THEY ALL DID VERY WELL.

Geoff Cox - HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury 2011

It is to Castleford Gilbert and Sullivan Society's considerable credit that, despite current financial restrictions, it has been able to mount a very enjoyable joint-bill production of HMS Pinafore and Trial by Jury at the Phoenix Theatre in Airedale Academy.

There was no orchestra, but that didn't matter, because Society accompanist Norman Walker's fine playing of the vocal scores was as secure and expressive as ever. There was no scenery, but that didn't matter either, because the production of the shows by Stuart Whitwell (who also conducted the performances), and Graham Weston, along with fine costuming and slide projection, ensured that our imaginations took us to the quarterdeck of a nineteenth-century sailing ship, and then to a Victorian courtroom. The libretto was cut from Pinafore, the musical numbers being connected by a witty narration from Graham Weston.

The overall musical standard was as high as we have come to expect from the Society. Both operettas are full of well-known and loved music, and justice (I use the word advisedly, given the story of Trial by Jury!) was done to it.

The Society is always keen to spread the leading roles amongst its considerable number of soloists, and it is difficult to single out some for praise whilst omitting others who were as equally impressive: I do, though, applaud Catherine Nuttall, Suzanne Parker, Bobbie Greatorex, David Wilcox, David Parker and Trevor Bye for their solos and ensembles. Just occasionally there was some forced singing or faulty intonation, but these occasions were rare indeed.

Congratulations to everyone involved. The Society hopes it might be able to mount a full production once again next year, and we very much look forward to it.

Margaret Wilks - Secretary Rothwell Competitive Music Festival
Spring Concert Review

What a fabulous concert.
Thank you so much for initiating it and supporting it too.
At the A.G.M., we were told that our final profit was £250 which is brilliant.
It will pay for one of the four adjudicators!

Please will you pass on our gratitude to the Society, whose talent was so very evident on Saturday afternoon. They have marvellous solo voices, sing well in ensembles and are such experienced performers that they gave delight to all their audience.

For Rothwell Competitive Music Festival
Thank you again,
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Wilks
23rd June 2011

Geoff Cox - Spring Concert Report 17th April 2011

To The Editor - Pontefract and Castleford Express.

Dear Sir,

Please may I, through your pages, congratulate and commend the town's Gilbert and Sullivan Society, whose Spring Concert I attended last evening in Trinity Methodist Church.

The concert was a celebration of the Society's fortieth anniversary, it having been founded in 1 971 by Marjorie Stoker, who is now its President. An encouragingly large audience enjoyed a whistle-stop tour through all of the operettas which the Society has performed during its long history, in chronological order of their production. Each was represented by both a chorus and an ensemble. Thus we heard favourite numbers such as 'When the foeman bears his steel' and the 'Paradox' trio from 'Pirates of Penzance' and the 'Banquet' chorus from The Sorcerer through to the less well-known music of 'Utopia Ltd' and 'Princess Ida'. I also very much enjoyed the medley of songs from 'Les Miserables', which provided a confident ending to the first half of the concert.

Musical Director Stuart Whitwell led the chorus securely through its numbers, which showed a high standard of balance, diction and intonation, it is to the Society's great credit that it has so many solo performers in its ranks, and the majority of these were given an opportunity to perform together in the wide variety of ensemble combinations. Likewise, it is to these singers' credit that, although they are a!! soloists, they blended, for the most part, into the composite choral sound.

Society pianist, Norman Walker, deserves special praise. G and S vocal reductions of the full scores are notoriously difficult to play, but Norman accompanied the singers in the very best of styles.

I am sure that everyone in the audience would join me in congratulating the Society and .wishing it every Success for future productions Yours faithfully,

Geoff Cox

NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) report on our October 2010 performance of Iolanthe.

Iolanthe, the magical lib involving Peers of the Realm and Fairies, is also a most tuneful score to which Castleford G&S did full justice. The chorus singing was excellent and the principal characters were all outstanding. Bobbie Greatorex was a superb Lord Chancellor and Valerie Green gave us a most regal Fairy Queen but perhaps the most eye-catching performances were Catherine Nuttall (Phyllis) and Liam Gilbert (Strephon) who both acted and sang with great conviction and were a delight to watch.

Fill in the form below and we'll let you know by email our next show and concert dates and how to buy tickets in advance.