Yeomen of the Guard is a great operetta. My favourite Gilbert and Sullivan? Possibly not. But the music is still absolutely beautiful, and it is unique for its romantic story and the most tragic G&S character. And this is a wonderful production, much better than the very uneven 1982 D'Oyly Carte production. The costume and set design here are very handsome, and has unobtrusive video directing to enhance. The picture quality could have been sharper but is acceptable considering it's VHS, while the sound is good. The orchestral playing is stylish yet sensitive, the conducting likewise and the chorus are lively and beautifully blended. The staging is witty and moving, with no stodginess or overdone stage business. Same goes with the dialogue and word-play, and the delivery is always on point. There are some fine performances as well. The best was Tommy Steele, whose Jack Point is sharp, engaging and poignant, which all play to his versatility. He has a good voice, he sings I Have a Song to Sing, O particularly well, and his death scene is a tear-jerker and doesn't resort to melodrama. Terry Jenkins is a commanding Fairfax, Anne Collins' Dame Carruthers is a real gorgon and Laureen Livingstone is very compassionate as Elsie and has a gorgeous voice(my personal favourite of the cast actually). The ever reliable Della Jones is excellent as Phoebe, and Dennis Wickes also commands the stage well. All in all, wonderful and much better than D'Oyly Carte's. 10/10 Bethany Cox
