KGASS

Kirkcaldy Gilbert

& Sullivan Society

Our latest production was

Ruddigore

Adam Smith Theatre

4th-7th March, 2009

 

 

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KGASS

 

Auditions for next year's show - La Vie Parisienne

Show: 3rd-6th March 2010

Auditions: 23rd June, 2009

 

Auditions will be held at 7.30pm on 23rd June, 2009 at Balwearie High School

 

There will be a non-refundable audition fee of £30, however this counts towards your membership fees for the year.

 

Please contact our secretary, Anne, on 595824 to note your interest and book a slot.

For details of audition pieces please click here.

 

Kirkcaldy Gilbert & Sullivan Society

Celebrates

"The Magnificent Seventy"

 

St John's Church, Kirkcaldy

Friday 5th June, 2009 at 7.30pm

 

and

 

Thornton Town Hall

Saturday 6th June, 2009 at 7.30pm

 

Tickets £8 (£7) under 16s £4

available from Lia Tel: 566353 or Anne Tel: 595824

or available on the door.

 

 

 

Sorry - it's too late to come and see RUDDIGORE L

 

Our audiences have said of the show...

 

"excellent show - thoroughly enjoyed it",

 

 "nice little extra touches in this production", "production sparkled",

 

"priceless - really funny"

 

"Congratulations to one and all for a splendid performance on Friday evening of "Ruddigore". The singing, acting, dancing and movement of principals  and chorus gave us a great deal of enjoyment. The colourful costumes and effective setting in both acts added to the total professional feeling given by the company to the audience. And the orchestra did not at any point overwhelm the singers.  Thank you for such an enjoyable evening."

 

"I came to the show on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Please pass on my congratulations to all for a first class performance. It was my first Gilbert and Sullivan show and it will be the first of many. It seams almost unfair to single anyone out for special praise as they were all excellent but I will admit to being very enthused by your leading pair. Robin really brought Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd alive with a great performance and Linda was fabulous. What a great voice!"

REVIEW by Neil Mudie for the Dundee Courier

Review of Kirkcaldy Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of Ruddigore:

Adam Smith Theatre, Wed March 4 – Saturday March 7

Even by the standards of Gilbert and Sullivan, Ruddigore has a ridiculous story line and creaky libretto – but it really doesn’t matter, as the famous patter trio says. The songs and music carry the show along on a tidal wave of melody.

Kirkcaldy G&S director Robin Ozog, who also played the parts of Robin Oakapple and Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd, chose to change the opening of the show, allowing Anne Balfour as Dame Hannah to set the scene. This she did, singing beautifully with very clear diction, giving those of us unfamiliar with the story at least a chance of following the plot. Her song was preceded by dialogue, giving us the unusual experience of a G&S production starting without music.

The bridesmaids chorus was on top form, led by Nikki Johnstone as Zorah. Nikki was one of a number of new young faces on stage – a very encouraging sign for Kirkcaldy G&S – and she sang and performed beautifully.

Another new face in the company was Scott Smeaton as Richard ("my heart calls me Dick!") Dauntless. He carried off the role effortlessly with a youthful tenor tone and fine comic touches.

Scott found himself playing opposite two G&S stalwarts. Linda Milne, as Rose Maybud and Robin Ozog have a vast amount of experience – and it showed. They brought real energy to the stage and sang and acted as we have come to expect.

Old Adam, Robin’s trusty retainer, was played by Ian Davidson. It was a delightful cameo and one of the highlights of the production. I thought he brought a touch of Mel Smith to the part – my companion through it was more Charles Laughton! His comic timing was absolutely impeccable.

For me, the highlight of the evening was Elaine Young’s Mad Margaret. From her first appearance (absolutely bonkers) through to the end of the show (still bonkers but just about under control) she was hilarious. Elaine also sang the part beautifully.

In Act 2 she teamed up with Robin Ozog and Robert Douglas Kerr for the ferociously fast "My Eyes are Fully Open" patter trio. No problem to these three old hands although there was a bit of local difficulty with the furniture – but it really didn’t matter.

Robert Douglas Kerr played Sir Despard with all the moustache twirling nastiness the part required and his easy baritone was a pleasure to listen to.

Ruddigore contains a scene which is difficult to pull off convincingly on the amateur stage. Ancestral paintings come alive and step out on to the stage to scare the wits out of Sir Ruthven. In this production it was managed magnificently with the aid of large individual portraits of each chorus member painted specially for the occasion.

After a bit of a wobble at the start of their big chorus the men settled down quickly and made the most of the creepy words and music.

As a green-faced Sir Roderic, Alastair Campbell led the eerie ancestors in "When the Night Wind Howls" one of Ruddigore’s best known numbers. It’s a tricky song and Alastair handled it well, coping with the added difficulty of being wheeled about the stage on a set of steps!

From the overture to the finale musical director John Howden had the orchestra well under control. Pleasing tempos and with sympathetic dynamics supported the singers without overwhelming them.

Apart from a maypole which threatened to topple into the pit and some "interesting" footwork from the men in the chorus, the opening night went off without a visible hitch. It was a very enjoyable night at the theatre. Well done Kirkcaldy G&S.

 

 

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Rehearsals

Rehearsals for our shows and concerts are usually held at 7.30pm on Tuesdays in St. John's Church Hall, Kirkcaldy.  Please come along and join us.  If you're not sure what's involved, please see our FAQ page.

 

Where is St. John's?

St. John's Church is on Elgin Street, click here for a map or if you have satnav the postcode is KY2 5HR.

 

Ruddigore Sponsors

Many thanks to all our generous sponsors for Ruddigore 2009 (click to visit their websites)

 

Northern Light, Edinburgh

Utopia Costumes, Forfar

The Victoria Hotel, Kirkcaldy

Heart and Soul Gift Shop, Leven

Kirkcaldy Chiropractic Clinic, Kirkcaldy

Sandy's Sign Shop, Kirkcaldy

Charlie Reid Travel, Kirkcaldy

New York Sandwich Co. Ltd, Kirkcaldy

Thomson Timber

The Gig Bag Music Shop, Kirkcaldy

Speedy Snaps, Kirkcaldy

Sounds Braw Ceilidh Band & Piano Tuning, Dunfermline

 

 

 

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