Ida at the OFS

	Ida at the OFS Before I went to see the Oxford Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of Princess Ida I knew one thing about it. Men stripped in it. Now, I've seen OUG&S productions before, I knew which men to expect, and I was slightly perturbed by the prospect. What a shock! I don't know where they found these men, but yes, they get naked, and yes, it's worth it. One apparently models. If they'd put them on the poster it would have been sell out. But I digress. It is very rare to go to a musical in Oxford and fine a whole cast full of wonderfully talented men. Usually you get half a million fabulous women making love to three old tone deaf queens who can't act, sing or dance. Well, now we know where all the good ones have been hiding! Woby Cathcart (what a voice!) was superb as the King Hildebrand, and Jonathan Morgan made a very amusing King Gama. John Pumphrey was perfect as the lead, Hilarion. He effortlessly hit top B's and smiled and danced all at the same time. Some feat. His companions, Cyril and Florian (Tom West and Adam Smyth) were both extremely talented singers, particually Tom who shone in his amusing solo. The brothers led by John Blake were marvellously funny, had stunning voices, and bravely stripped down to their undies to the tune of Sullivan-esque Handel, much to the delight of the little old lady sitting behind me, and I'm sure, many others! Sara Kreindler made a good stab at Ida, and her characterisation of the complicated role was sensitive. She had a very powerful singing voice, and opened her mouth wider than I thought was humanly possible, perhaps accounting for the fact that a lot of her consonants were lost, and it was a little hard to understand what she was saying. Ruth Harris gave a strong performance as Lady Blanch, delivering her dialogue with considerably more ease than some other characters. Sarah Barham, with her charming assortment of smiles ranging from flirtatious to simpering, and Reina Hardy, with her "Miss Brown, under those glasses you look quite attractive"-thing going on, were both entertaining. The ladies chorus might have acted up a bit more. I Alison Kinder and Emma Farge supported well, but some ladies never smiled the whole way through, and one continually mouthed every one else's lines. Fascinating to watch but a bit distracting! The comedy of the play was nicely handled. All of the scenes with the suitors or the brothers were pure pleasure to watch, and raised lots of chuckles, and the dancing was entered into with such enthusiasm that it was impossible to tell whether mistakes were on purpose or not, and even more impossible to mind - credit to director Simon Tavener. The orchestra were probably the biggest let down. Although MD Andrew Radley manfully tried to keep things going on a little electric keyboard, such talented singers really deserved a better accompaniment. Maybe things will improve as the week goes on. The story (prince and friends dress up as women to seduce girls in a Hilda's style women's college) is daft, I don't deny it, and the quality of the acting is a bit patchy, but Princess Ida was fun, and it finished before closing time - well, priorities and all that … Katherine Knowles 16/02/02

Ida at the OFS

Before I went to see the Oxford Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of Princess Ida I knew one thing about it. Men stripped in it. Now, I've seen OUG&S productions before, I knew which men to expect, and I was slightly perturbed by the prospect. What a shock! I don't know where they found these men, but yes, they get naked, and yes, it's worth it. One apparently models. If they'd put them on the poster it would have been sell out. But I digress.

It is very rare to go to a musical in Oxford and fine a whole cast full of wonderfully talented men. Usually you get half a million fabulous women making love to three old tone deaf queens who can't act, sing or dance. Well, now we know where all the good ones have been hiding! Woby Cathcart (what a voice!) was superb as the King Hildebrand, and Jonathan Morgan made a very amusing King Gama. John Pumphrey was perfect as the lead, Hilarion. He effortlessly hit top B's and smiled and danced all at the same time. Some feat. His companions, Cyril and Florian (Tom West and Adam Smyth) were both extremely talented singers, particually Tom who shone in his amusing solo. The brothers led by John Blake were marvellously funny, had stunning voices, and bravely stripped down to their undies to the tune of Sullivan-esque Handel, much to the delight of the little old lady sitting behind me, and I'm sure, many others!

Sara Kreindler made a good stab at Ida, and her characterisation of the complicated role was sensitive. She had a very powerful singing voice, and opened her mouth wider than I thought was humanly possible, perhaps accounting for the fact that a lot of her consonants were lost, and it was a little hard to understand what she was saying. Ruth Harris gave a strong performance as Lady Blanch, delivering her dialogue with considerably more ease than some other characters. Sarah Barham, with her charming assortment of smiles ranging from flirtatious to simpering, and Reina Hardy, with her "Miss Brown, under those glasses you look quite attractive"-thing going on, were both entertaining. The ladies chorus might have acted up a bit more. I Alison Kinder and Emma Farge supported well, but some ladies never smiled the whole way through, and one continually mouthed every one else's lines. Fascinating to watch but a bit distracting!

The comedy of the play was nicely handled. All of the scenes with the suitors or the brothers were pure pleasure to watch, and raised lots of chuckles, and the dancing was entered into with such enthusiasm that it was impossible to tell whether mistakes were on purpose or not, and even more impossible to mind - credit to director Simon Tavener. The orchestra were probably the biggest let down. Although MD Andrew Radley manfully tried to keep things going on a little electric keyboard, such talented singers really deserved a better accompaniment. Maybe things will improve as the week goes on.

The story (prince and friends dress up as women to seduce girls in a Hilda's style women's college) is daft, I don't deny it, and the quality of the acting is a bit patchy, but Princess Ida was fun, and it finished before closing time - well, priorities and all that …

Katherine Knowles 16/02/02