The Sevenoaks Players are members of NODA, founded in 1899, “to protect and advance the interests of operatic and dramatic art and of societies engaged therein.” Today NODA has membership of some 2,450 individual enthusiasts and 2,500 amateur companies throughout the UK staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and pantomimes in a wide variety of performing venues ranging from professional theatres to village halls.

The object of the association is to advance education by promoting and improving the art of music and theatre in order to stimulate public appreciation.
They have a school which runs courses for singers, instrumentalists, actors, producers and directors, and all others interested in the performance of any theatre activity.
The association supports Amateur Groups that are members in any way possible with their various productions.

Area Noda Rep –          Doreen Grierson
Players’ NODA rep -     Pat Smith  01892  890696

Click here for the latest review from Doreen Grierson 

NODA Review of Pirates of Penzance

Deatails for this year will be posted later.

 Sevenoaks Players

 THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Broadway Version)

 The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks

 Director – Keith Neville

 Musical Director – Ian Skipper

          Choreography – Jessica McEwen    

          Thursday, 29^th March 2012

 

Front of House: Thank you Pat for the attention and hospitality both before the show and during the interval. It was much appreciated.

 

Programme: Lovely presented programme, worthy of entry in next year’s programme competition.

 

Set/Props: The set design was simple but effective. In Act 1 the Pirate Ship was a nice touch and the various rocks looked quite solid until one moved when the Pirate King stood on it. Act 2 similarly looked good but there was a bit too much ‘atmospheric smoke’, the stage and actors disappeared for a while. Not so sure about the face on the moon. Looked a bit like Humpty Dumpty sitting on the wall! Props are always unpredictable as we all had a bit of a laugh when the ‘cosh’ bounced of a head out of the Pirate King’s hands and into the wings.

 

Lighting/Sound: This all seemed to work well but it didn’t help when one of the pirates kicked a spot from its set position.

 

Costumes: On the whole costumes looked good but my eye kept being drawn to the unevenness of the hems on the ladies’ dresses.

 

Musical Direction: I don’t know how different the scoring is for this version but the band’s skill and experience showed, ably led by Ian Skipper. Ian had to show his skill to get the Major General back on track when he muddled his words and miss-timed an entry. The chorus singing, however, was superb, especially in the unaccompanied ‘Hail Poetry’.

 

The Production: Under Keith Neville’s direction and Jessica McEwen’s choreography, the pace did not slacken. A lot of entries and exits were made through the audience, they must have been worn out going up and down all those stairs! Frederic was well played by Peter Calver with some good comic timing and with Bob Wilson as the Pirate King and Ruth Makepeace as Ruth (could she not have been made to look a little older?) the trio worked well together. Laura Brand as Mabel had a superb vocal range. She was ably supported by Victoria Reay (Edith); Claire Tilley (Kate); Bridget Scott (Isabel) and the lovely ladies chorus. I have seen Anthony Eglinton in quite a few productions and he never fails to impress in every part he plays. This was no exception, here he played the Major General with humour and energy. The policemen, led by their sergeant Paul Hemingway, were as entertaining as the pirates.

I love any Gilbert & Sullivan andneedless to say, I have seen, and been in, many productions of ‘Pirates’. Here was a disciplined company that obviously relished this more challenging version.

 

 

Doreen Grierson.

NODA Regional Rep.

District 7