[musicals fan]

Agreed that the company has a low budget - for the obvious reason that it receives no subsidy. The appalling decision by the Arts Council to refuse support the D'Oyly Carte ensured its demise and left this company alone to keep the G&S tradition going in the professional theatre.

I have long thought that if there is anything that ENO should be doing it is G&S - they were mightily important in the musical theatre of this country and had a big influence on Broadway - the Gershwins, Rogers& Hart all acknowledged their debt to G&S. I cannot see why ENO could not put on (say) one G&S opera every year to keep the operas alive and to develop the skills required in new generations of performers. Strict control of Directors would be needed though - we already have enough "innovative" directorial visions in operas at the Coliseum to be getting along with I think.

[Daniel]

The appalling decision by the Arts Council to refuse support the D'Oyly Carte ensured its demise

Indeed. It was particularly galling as Doyly Carte had begun to perform other operettas apart from G & S so it is not just G & S which has been lost to us but operettas generally which are not likely to receive a commercial production. Of course, this so-called Labour government is full of philistines who consider our money is better spent on illegal wars based on Blair's lies.

[Michael H]

Saw Yeomen in Wimbledon on Thursday night, and I was pretty disappointed by the acting. Seriously OTT - one chorus member's "Oh yes, the Merryman and the Maid" being particularly audible above the general hubbub. Three different cast members forgot lines in the Act 1 Finale - alhough perhaps forgivable if you consider they're doing this in rep with another two operattas. Shadows of people were also visible in the house on the audience's left - when cast members were due to come on from behind the house. Singing was OK.

Seeing Patience tonight. Perhaps the coarse acting will be a bit more suitable. It'll be the first professional production of Patience I've seen.

[Daniel]

Saw Patience today & enjoyed it enormously. This company deserves all the support we can give it. I shall try to catch Iolanthe when they go to the Geilgud.
Incidentally - and bear in mind this was a Saturday matinee at Wimbledon -both Valerie Masterson & Dame Joan Sutherland were in the audience. Great to see them both.

[Michael H]

I agree with Daniel - what a difference two days make!

Patience was absolutely brimming with wit and energy - right from every well-received rapture from the ladies' chorus at the beginning. The production was particularly blessed by Fenton Gray as Bunthorne and Gareth Jones as the Colonel, I thought.

Loved Patience, disappointed by Yeomen, particularly as a friend of mine who saw Patience tonight felt that British Youth Opera's production of Yeomen a few years back (also directed by Michael McCaffery) was the "benchmark" production.

If Iolanthe is closer in spirit to Patience than Yeomen, I'll certainly consider the West End transfer next year too.