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FUN FROLIC GOES DOWN A TREAT

By Kate Young - Friday, May 16, 2008
FUN FROLIC GOES DOWN A TREAT
In Iolanthe were, from left, front, Lucy Stevens as Phyllis, Steven Young as Straphon, Kathryn Lidster as Leila, back, Michael Whitwam as Lord Tolloller, Derek Atkinson as Private Willis, Eleanor Taylor as Celia, Cate Clark as Fairy Queen, Suzy Clark as Fleta, Gaynor Marsden as Iolanthe, Paul Stevens as The Lord Chancellor and Bruce Marks as Lord Mountararat. Picture by LAURA HOLME.
STAGE REVIEW
IOLANTHE is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most ridiculous, fanciful operettas and the Island Savoyards caught its lighthearted nuances well.
Performed at Shanklin Theatre, this romantic fairytale blended harmonious singing and polished choreography with excellent costume and set design and a note-perfect orchestra under the baton of David Yates.
The show starred Gaynor Marsden as the fairy Iolanthe and she was the epitome of an ethereal, yet spirited immortal.
Cate Clark gave a powerful performance as the Queen of the Fairies, who holds Iolanthe’s fate in her hands, while Lucy Stevens showed an exceptional voice as Arcadian shepherdess Phyllis.
Steven Young was likeable as the young hero Strephon, who idolises Phyllis but finds himself in the unusual position of being half-fairy and half-mortal and starts a trend as a Fairy Member of the House of Peers.
Paul Stevens was a riot as the outrageously fickle Lord Chancellor and the dancing during the rendition of He Who Shies At Such A Prize, with the two earls, Mountararat and Tolloller, went down particularly well.
Bruce Marks and Michael Whitwam were a scream as Mountararat and Tolloller respectively, while Derek Atkinson gave an enjoyable performance as the likeable Private Willis of the Grenadier Guards.
Eleanor Taylor, Kathryn Lidster and Suzy Clark played the fairies Celia, Leila and Fleta and their subtle brand of scheming was reminiscent of a good version of Shakespeare’s three witches from Macbeth.
The cast was guided by producer Roger Lidster and also included two ladies of dubious repute, played by Menna Morey and Sheelah Stephens, plus a large cast of fairies and peers.
Iolanthe has one of those plots that you either love or hate but theatre-goers could not have failed to be impressed by the sheer professionalism with which this show was presented — particularly after the recent death of Gareth Pritchard, who would have been a member of the chorus and was also a well-respected director who was always willing to share his knowledge and enthusiasm.
• On the closing night there was a surprise visitor when Island high sheriff Alan Titchmarsh attended.