THE SORCERER - WEST ROAD CONCERT HALL
Wizard’s hats off to the C.U. G&S Society for putting on ‘The Sorcerer’ – one of the least known of the Savoy operas. It was Gilbert and Sullivan’s first full-length work and is quite unlike the rest of the oeuvre. There is a restrained wistful air about the very slight story of a rosy English village falling prey to a magical love potion. Sullivan’s score is catchy with a preponderance of parlour ballads, recitative and jolly choruses. Gilbert’s lyrics are prosaic with the exception of the astonishing patter song introducing the aforesaid Wizard, namely John Wellington Wells, who combines the role of magical sorcerer with canny businessman.
The show started without too much promise. I have an issue about overtures. Unless exceptionally well written and equally well played, I don’t see the point of them. My favourite G&S company, Charles Court Opera, always dispenses with them and gets straight to the action. I felt this is especially crucial for ‘The Sorcerer’ as the piece already starts very slowly and doesn’t really spark until the arrival of the eponymous necromancer.
Happily this part was exceptionally well played by Matthew Sargent, all gangly legs, creepy gestures, devilish leers and powerful baritone. He lit up the stage whenever on, striding the stage like a malevolent spider. This young man surely has a bright future as a Savoyard. He was well supported by other members of the cast in particular Luke Thomas as a lovelorn vicar and Sylvie Hodgson, sweet voiced as Aline. After a few wobbles the pit orchestra got into its stride and supported the singers well. I was struck also by a very fine backdrop of half-timbered pastoral and some imaginative use of lighting. There were some excellent ensemble pieces such as the crazy duet between the mature lovers (very Sondheim - they sing a respectable gavotte counterpointed by inner thoughts of lust and passion) and a well staged incantation episode full of ghastly doings. The singing throughout was strong in all departments and the costumes were properly mid Victorian- this show i think would defy any attempt at modernisation.
This was a competent and entertaining production of an operetta that has its charms but frankly is difficult to really love even with a Sorcerer’s potion. That said I thoroughly enjoyed the production which grew in confidence as the evening progressed. It is a very complex and difficult show to pull off and so, pointy hats off to the company.
