Made with Xara Web Designer Keswick Amateur Operatic Society Production Coordinator  Chris Briggs Director Sarah Warner Musical Director Ian France Choreographers Sarah Warner, Stephanie Bolger, Lena Jones,  Mary Mason                                The Cast  The Lord Chancellor Baxter Shaw Earl of Mountararat Chris Briggs Earl Tolloller Keith Martin Private Willis Ian Hartland Strephon Neil Airey Queen of the Fairies Jackie Warner Iolanthe Stephanie Bolger Phyllis Sarah Warner Celia Mary Mason Lelia Cathrine Gaskell Fleta Alison Pond      Keswick Reminder 7th May 2004 IOLANTHE BY KAOS Keswick Amateur Operatic Society’s latest rendition of the Gilbert and Sullivan musical classic ‘Iotanthe’ provides its audience with a heady mix of political satire and fairy frivolity. The first night produced a somewhat hesitant performance although from the reaction at curtain call time the majority of the audience had enjoyed the production. KAOS has put on some wonderful shows in recent years, but lolanithe may not be one of their finest. The production, however, lost nothing in terms of its costumes, extravagant chorus scenes and its buoyant and sometimes amusing spirit. Neil Airey and Jackie Warner sang together pleasantly as Strephon, the half mortal, half fairy who plans to marry the lovely and much sought after Phyllis, ward of Lord Chancellor Baxter Shaw Like all Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, there are obstacles to be overcome before everyone gets together and dances off into fairy land to live happily ever after. For instance, Strephon’s body is that of a fairy, but his legs remain mortal because he is the son of an illicit marriage which led to the banishment of his mother lolanthe (Stephanie Bolger). The Lord Chancellor is not suited by the idea of his ward marrying a shepherd. After misunderstandings, Strephon enters Parliament to try and overthrow the privileges of the nobility, but he misses Phyllis and eventually reveals his fairy origins to her. Chris Briggs and Keith Martin make a likely pair of Earls in their rather flash suits, as they vie for the attentions of Phyllis. Ian Hartland as the guardsman Private Willis gets most of the comedy appeal ahd even brought the house down in the interval (almost literally), when he caught his gun in a cherub on top of a sentry box while marching across the stage. There was also an appealingly witty cameo part for Mary Mason as a punk fairy complete with bovver boots. Key roles are played by Jackie Warner, as the Fairy Queen who finds her own handsome mortal and makes it all come right with a sprinkling of fairy magic, Cathrine Gaskell and Alison Pond. The show is directed by Sarah Warner, produced by Chris Briggs and the musical director is Ian France. Fairies with an agenda lolanthe, Keswick Amateur Operatic Society Theatre by the Lake, Tuesday May 4 This is one of those occasions when you can be “away with the fairies” and nobody will doubt your sanity. There is a heady concoction of fairy frivolity and political satire in Keswick Amateur Operatic Society’s latest rendition of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical classic. However the first night produced a mixed performance in which some of the singing and music left a bit to be desired. The society has put on some wonderful shows in recent years, but Iolanthe was not one of their finest. Although the show lost nothing in terms of its costumes, extravagant chorus scenes and its sometimes amusing spirit. Neil Airey and Jackie Warner sang together pleasantly as Strephon the half mortal, half fairy who plans to marry the lovely and much sought after Phyllis, ward of Lord Chancellor Baxter Shaw. Chris Bniggs and Keith Martin make a likely pair of Earls in their rather flash suits. Most of the laughs go to Ian Hartland as the guardsman, Private Willis. He even brought the house down, almost literally in the interval when, while marching across the stage, he caught his gun on a cherub on top of a sentry box, There was also a deliciously witty cameo part for Mary Mason as a punk fairy corn plete with bovver boots. Iolanthe can be seen at the lakeside theatre until Sat urday. ROSS BREWSTER Times and Star 6th May 2004 NODA North West News Summer 2004 Peter Hendren Region 10 Representative Tuesday 4th May to Saturday 8th May 2004 IOLANTHE - KESWICK A.O.S. A bright production of ‘lolanthe’ from Keswick AOS. I liked the opening especially, as the overture blended into the fairies scene. Immediately the Fairy Queen (Jackie Warner) stamped her personality on the action with her clear and forceful diction. The part of Strephon is a difficult tightrope to walk,- it is either a pantomime character or one of impossible aestheticism, Neil Airey played an excellent midway role and was entirely believable. Baxter Shaw was an amusing Chancellor— always entertaining, especially in the nightmare song. The magnificently costumed peers were ably led by Mountarat (Chris Briggs) and Tolloller (Keith Martin) and Private Willis (Ian Hartland) completed a fine male cast. Director Sarah Warner was a busy girl, as she also played Phyllis very competently. There were some nice original light touches of humour, and she has deserved congratulations on her first direction. An excellent evening topped off with a NODA award presentation too—a first for the society. Well done everyone!! Click on the photos for a larger image