The Yeomen of the Guard

Whether Yeomen of the Guard is among my favourite Gilbert and Sullivan operettas I'm not sure. I still like it very much though, because the music is just beautiful and of all G&S' operettas it is Yeomen that has the most emotionally complex story. Seeing this entire production on Youtube last night, as part of my G&S marathon(again), I found myself entirely captivated. I may even prefer it a tad over the Tommy Steele performance, also great, and certainly over the 1980s D'Oyly Carte one, which I found myself not caring all that much for. The production is visually simple but beautifully designed and elegantly colourful. The music is played with zest and delicacy by the orchestra, sung with warmth and vibrancy by the male and female chorus and conducted with not just a feeling for the drama but also with an understanding of the G&S style. The picture quality, photography and sound do nothing to distract, newcomers may prefer subtitles as well but that didn't come across as a problem to me. The dialogue(and lyrics) is still as witty as ever and well-rehearsed, and the staging is never dull but not too rushed either. The comedy manages to be still be very funny, and the tragic aspects are genuinely touching. The singing is exceptional from all, and all the roles are beautifully characterised. But the standouts were Derek Hammond-Stroud as a Jack Point that is amusing and heart-breaking with a voice that has an appealing sound and very strong emotion, and Valerie Masterson who is very charming and sympathetic and her bright and pure timbre is one that I'd recognise from anywhere. Overall, funny, moving and beautifully performed, if Gilbert and Sullivan were alive to see this they'd be proud. 10/10 Bethany Cox