SHENSTON IAN 88 - Old Silhillians Association

Bohemian Folk Dance and Cancan the members of the chorus put their best foot
forward (sometimes rather heavily) and worked hard to master steps, rhythm and
pattern. The Cancan dancers had inevitably the most strenuous part but earned the
praise of their coach, Madeline Hackett and the enthusiastic applause of the
audience by their stylish, colourful and vigorous routine.
The role of the widow herself, Madame Glavari, makes very particular
demands on both the vocal and acting talents of the player and Rachel Shannon
rose, apparently effortlessly to meet those demands. She manipulated her menfolk
shamelessly and delightfully and held her audience enrapt. The object of her
scheming, Count Danilo Danilovitsch, was well played by Tim Fowler whose ability
to look so easily like a young roué was slightly alarming. Together these two
provided some memorable moments, not least when "Riding in the park", but they
were splendidly supported by the other principals and chorus. As Baron Zeta, John
Errington contrived to look very distinguished, to sing with authority and to act
with a nice blend of assurance and incompetence. His wife 'Valencienne' was
delighfully played by Clare Turnbull with sure voice and a very natural command of
her lover, 'Camille', (David Brown) who followed her like a rather devoted, if
slightly confused, St. Bernard, and whose splendid voice did justice to his beautiful
tenor arias. As 'Njegus', The Baron's servant, David Viney seized the opportunities
offered by the role to produce a humorous, eccentric but credible character,
demonstrating to younger actors the necessity to be always acting when always on
the stage.
Lesser roles were more than adequately filled by Giles Richardson (Cascada),
Philip Smith (St. Brioche), Rachel Smith (Sylvia), Rachel Jones (Olga), Claudine
Pearson (Praskovia), Richard Aitchison (Kromov), Matthew Pay (Bogdanovitsch)
and Alan James (Pritsch), all of whom performed with style and sang with
confidence. They were ably supported by a chorus who coped admirably with the
limited size and entrances of the School's stage, on a splendid set, masterminded
this year by David Fowles, with us on teaching practice at the time but joining the
staff in September, to our distinct advantage!
Colour, life, enthusiasm, enjoyment, to say nothing of real talent — all were
there on stage to be appreciated by large and lively audiences who also enjoyed the
playing, the best Opera Orchestra we have ever had.
The VI form Opera is always hard work for all involved in it, in whatever
capacity, but its ability to draw together very large numbers of boys and girls in
what is always eventually a happy and rewarding enterprise makes it a vital part of
the School's life. Long may it remain so and let us hope that the high standard set
by this year's cast can be met by their successors.
HRR