Yeomen of the Guard is not my favourite G&S operetta, but it is unique for being a romance and for having the most tragic character of all the characters in Gilbert and Sullivan. The beautiful music that is typical of G&S operetta is still in Yeomen. This production as far as the series of which it comes from is not as dull as Pirates of Penzanze, but it was an uneven production that had its moments. The costumes and sets are quite handsome in look, and musically the production is excellent with assured conducting, a well-balanced chorus and stylish orchestral playing. There are also some great performances. Three stood out, Alfred Marks, Elizabeth Bainbridge and Elizabeth Gale. Marks stole the show for me, as Wilfred he is such a commanding presence. Bainbridge is a more dignified Dame than the gorgon-like one, but this approach worked. And Gale's Elsie is moving and genuinely compassionate, with a Though Tear and Long-drawn that is beautifully sung. Some aspects of the staging worked, the finale of Act 1 and Phoebe/Wilfred's exchange in Act 2 are suitably comedic, and Geoffrey Chard sings his solo in Tower Warders, Under Orders remarkably well. However I was very disappointed in Joel Grey's Jack Point, who comes across as dull and annoying rather than sharp and engaging and his death scene manages to be melodramatic(in the body language) and bland(in the facial expressions). As a singer, he isn't terrible, but he lacks the G&S style, his singing was too Broadway-ish and it sounded as though I was hearing two completely different styles. As Colonel Fairfax, David Hillman tries his hardest, but it's difficult to do that when your best and most crucial music is cut. I try not to fuss about cuts, but there were numbers that were crucial to the plot, and are highlights that a lot of Gilbert and Sullivan fans would watch the production for, that were absent such as When a Woo'er Comes a Wooing. The picture quality is rather drab, not as bad as Pirates of Penzanze, but when the production looks so handsome it does at least deserve picture quality that enhances the handsomeness in alternative to dulling it. I have always loved Gilbert and Sullivan for the witty lyrics and dialogue, as well as the beautiful music and memorable characters, but here some of it seems ham-fisted and therefore not as witty. Overall, uneven and disappointing, but has its bright spots. 6/10 Bethany Cox
