Judith Proctor's Journal

 For the Gilbert and Sullivan fans among you (and you may enjoy this even if you aren't, though it works best if you know the tune), here (courtesy of Pensnest) is a modern version of people to hate - including climate change deniers and Nigerian spammers.

Had a thoroughly enjoyable evening last night when I took micavity and entorien to see Princess Ida at Poole Lighthouse.

The costumes were glorious, a cheerful mixture of classical Greek and medieval. Prince Hilarion and his friends in short Greek skirts looked great (why don't men show their calves more often?) and the combinations of red, purple and white made the stage a joy to look at.

The music was good, the singers, obviously enjoying themselves. The script had been updated (as all good Gilbert and Sullivan performances always have been right since the first performance) to make the jokes topical - Prince Hilarion looks down into the orchestra pit and complains about Arts Council grants; Ida jokes about Blair and Brown, and Posh and Becks.

The commedy scenes with Ida's brothers worked wonderfully and King Gama reminded us of Fagin (Ron Moody) from Oliver with his scheming and complaining. Hilarion and his friends in drag are hysterical - one of the tutors rapidly spots that the three new 'girls' at the university are 'two tenors and a baritone'!

The last act was the weakest, but even that was given strength by Ida's bravery as she is deserted by her women (who quite understandably quail at the thought of being soldiers).

I'm happy to say that entorien has become a convert to Gilbert and Sullivan (this was the first one she'd seen) and I hope to take them both to see The Gondoliers next year!

I've loved 'The Gondoliers' ever since I used to listen to it on my father's reel to reel tape recorder as a little girl, but I'm not sure that I've ever, actually, seen it on stage.