Gilbert and Sullivan’s biting mockery of the aesthetic movement, the fickleness of love and infatuation and the worshipping of celebrities has never been better or more wittily presented than in Charles Court Opera’s current production. Played gloriously tongue-in-cheek, this show is a joy from start to finish. Patience is an over-the-top satire with contemporary relevance to today’s shallow celebrity culture and the ephemeral nature of fleeting trends.
Patience, a young barmaid, is unschooled in the ways of love and is confused to see that three women of varying maturity who profess to be in love with the poet, Bunthorne, are desperately unhappy because of it and have taken to drink. They already have three upstanding military men, including one who is a Duke, as suitors but find them dull compared to the flamboyance of the poet whose affections they all yearn for. When Patience remembers Archibald, her first love who she met when they were children, her heart becomes open to the possibility of future love. Archibald, also now a poet and flagrant narcissist, arrives and is immediately sighed over by the three women who have switched their affections from Bunthorne. Archibald however proclaims his love for Patience and asks for her hand in marriage. But there is a problem. As Patience struggles with her feelings, she declares that for love to be true, it must be unselfish. So, she cannot marry Archibald as she would thus selfishly deny other women the supposed joy of his attentions. A typical G&S conundrum, with few characters being who they seem and many personal attitudes to be addressed and resolved along the way to the final curtain.
The entire cast is superb, with sublime vocals and spot-on comedy timing. Director John Savournin (also playing Bunthorne in this performance) makes the most of the glorious talents of the cast. He has also added topical and contemporary nods and references to excellent comedy effect, bringing the story to current relevance for more laugh-out-loud moments. Kudos also to musical director David Eaton, whose piano accompaniment perfectly evokes the era of Gilbert and Sullivan but also manages a contemporary flavour.
The set, consisting of the bar where Patience works doling out seemingly endless booze to the three ladies, their suitors and the poets, is simple yet effective. The three melancholics are dressed in steam-punk, the poets as Byron look-a-likes, all frilly cuffs and velveteen coats, the military men smart in their uniforms. In the middle of all this, Patience is plainly dressed in drab work clothes as she runs the bar, her story the vortex affecting the outcomes for all the characters.
A delight not to be missed, but you’ll need to be quick – Patience is only on at Wilton’s Music Hall until Friday, 26th August. Tickets are on sale from: www.wiltons.org.uk
Reviewer: Carole Gordon
Reviewed: 24th August 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★