No 7 — July 1977 Edited by Michael Walters
Having "guested" in Sunbury's last three productions, it was nice to go back as a member of the audience and view this one. The local press said that it was "cramped" in the tiny hall in which it was played, but it was not, it was a delightfully intimate and friendly performance - and the small hall was flattering to some weakish voices which in the larger barn of the Grammar School, Sunbury, where they used to play, might have got lost. I have heard Pirates better sung than it was on this occasion, but I have seldom if ever seen it more delightfully staged. The hall, and Dorothy White's production, together created a marvellously cosy and party atmosphere - one felt it was a private performance being given for a few invited and cherished friends. Pictorially it was one of the prettiest productions of Pirates I have seen, all the moves and positions were imaginative yet unobtrusive, and certainly never obvious or ostentatious, but then trust Dorothy White to know how to do it with style and taste. My only criticisms on this side were the placards during the Policeman's Chorus: - "Policemen, 5+2 = The Magnificent 7". "What do you think of the show so far". "Rubbish", which were not objectionable, but unnecessary ("superfluous yet not needful"); and the altering of Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth (which was meaningless as the piece was dressed in Victorian costume) and 1940 to 1980, the latter date being in any case mathematically wrong!
John Avery conducted the orchestra with care, but he deserved to have a better collection of players - this remark does not apply to Robin White, the double bass player, who had stepped in late in the proceedings to fill a hole (it was rather a nice reunion for me). Archie Shave was a paternal bumbling old Major-General (having first been associated with him when he played General Boum, I rather picture him as bumbling old Generals), so it worked well. Brian Scollick (Frederic) was being very careful with the music as he was recovering from a cold, and wisely avoided some high notes - for all that he still produced more volume than most of the cast. He has nice delivery and an easy stage manner, I do wish, though, that he would break the habit of singing out of the side of his mouth. Philip Otto (Samuel) has a good voice and sang what he had to sing very well. Martin Russell (Pirate King) was below par, I fear, this was the one slightly disappointing performance of the evening. He has height, good looks and a grandiose stage presence - in fact everything going for him in a part like this - plus a voice, which, if he did some work on it, could be a fine one. Throughout the evening he was diffident and (allowing for the fact that he, too, was suffering from a cold) was low in volume. He improved as the evening wore on - so he is obviously one with a long warm-up period - always a problem! I think he could do an awful lot better than this if he really set his mind to it. Paddy O'Brien was a superbly funny Sergeant with a sonorous bass-baritone to go with it. Shiela Turnill sang and acted entrancingly as Mabel - it was the first time I had seen her on stage, and I was happy not to have missed the opportunity. It was the best performance of the evening, done with charm and dignity. Joyce Horton was well cast as Ruth and played the part with sincerity. Edith (Lyn Coker) Kate (Ann Barnett) and Isabel (Brenda Martin-Dye) did all that was necessary with their smaller parts. MICHAEL WALTERS
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