Synopsis:
Act One
A once brave and revered soldier, Colonel Fairfax, has been accused of sorcery, and is imprisoned in the Tower of London and sentenced to death. Whilst imprisoned, he unknowingly entices Phoebe Meryll, the daughter of Fairfax’s close friend Sergeant Meryll. Wilfred Shadbolt, the jailer and Phoebe’s own admirer, jealously gloats of the forthcoming execution. Together with his daughter, Sergeant Meryll hatches a plot to save his former comrade Fairfax by disguising him as his own son, Leonard Meryll, who has just arrived as the newest Yeomen.
Fairfax, after explaining his optimistic view on the dire situation, asks Lieutenant Cholmondeley to help him marry before he is to die, so that his estate does not fall into the hands of his wicked cousin. Enter Jack Point and Elsie Maynard, travelling entertainers. The Lieutenant offers Elsie “an hundred crowns” to marry Fairfax for the last hour of his life, and Elsie agrees as she is desperate for money to help her dying mother. Point has his concerns as he intends to marry Elsie himself but agrees after some reassurances over the shortness of Fairfax’s life.
The Merylls’ plan takes hold after Phoebe seduces Wilfred and steals his keys. Once freed by Sergeant Meryll, Fairfax is introduced to his new colleagues, a daunting experience which turns to confusion when he his embraced by his new “sister” Phoebe. As the bell chimes, the execution commences, but as “Leonard” (Fairfax) is sent to retrieve the prisoner (also Fairfax), he quite unsurprisingly returns empty-handed. Confusion ensues as the Lieutenant blames Wilfred, and Point is distraught that Elsie’s new husband is still alive. The act ends as Elsie faints into the arms of Fairfax.
Act Two
Dame Carruthers, the stern housekeeper of the Tower, berates the Yeomen for being unable to find the escapee. Point, now in the Lieutenant’s employ, bitterly reflects on the hardships of his profession. Wilfred, in a similarly depressed state, responds that he’d rather be a jester than a jailer. The cunning Point then agrees to teach Wilfred how to jest if he pretends that he has found and killed Fairfax. The still-disguised Fairfax is full of regret after realising his escape has foiled his own plot of short-lived marriage. He expresses his concern to Meryll for the woman that fainted in his arms, not realising she is his wife. Dame Carruthers and her niece Kate reveal that Elsie had spoken of her secret wedding to Fairfax in her sleep. Fairfax, when alone, reveals his pleasure to be married to such a beautiful girl and decides to woo Elsie whilst disguised as Leonard to test her loyalty. After a gunshot is heard, Wilfred and Point proclaim their pretend triumph. Now that Fairfax is believed to be dead, a disguised Fairfax defeats Point in a contest for Elsie’s affection. After a reprieve finally arrives for the Colonel, secrets come to light and marriages take hold leaving some delighted, others dissatisfied, and one distraught.
Production Team:
Director - Michael Stahl
Assistant Director & Stage Manager - Alice Poole
Co-Musical Director - Patrick Sharman
Co-Musical Director - Amy Bradbury
Chorus Master - Fern Warwick
Cast:
Jack Point - Cameron Bryan
Colonel Fairfax - Orin Daniel
Elsie Maynard - Serena Higgins
Phoebe Meryll - Emily Pinching
Wilfred Shadbolt - Steffan Griffiths
Sergeant Meryll - Matt Friend
Dame Carruthers - Hannah Komedera
Lieutenant Cholmondeley - Katie Cross
Leonard Meryll - Caitlin Duff
Kate - Catherine Gardom
Yeoman 1 - Peter Laszcz
Yeoman 2 - Joseph Harding
Citizen 1/Yeomen Chorus - James Dooley
Citizen 2/Yeomen Chorus - Josh Coombes
Yeomen Chorus - Phoenix Archibald
Citizen Chorus - Mollu Gwynne, Katherine Galvin, Ander Hatton, Jo Payne
Orchestra:
Violin 1 - Evie Hughes, Gemma Ayton, Noa David
Violin 2 - Catherine Burne, Rebecca Stephans-Brettell, Amira Campbell
Viola - Alice Bright
Cello - Sophie Mills, Myfi Heydtmann
Double Bass - Toby Caswell
Flute 1 - Elliott Westgarth
Flute 2/Piccolo - Chris Hill
Oboe - Esther Hulley
Clarinet 1 - Emma Parker
Clarinet 2 - Sam Pollacco
Bassoon 1 - Molly Ashen
Bassoon 2 - Amy Bradbury
Trumpet 1 - Isabelle Edwards
Trumpet 2 - Emilia Bashford
Horn 1 - Joe Bryce
Horn 2 - Zack Hart
Trombone 1 - Dan Rees
Trombone 2 - Joe Ward
Trombone 3 - Fern Wawrick
Percussion - Cleo Redgrave
Offstage Chorus:
Annabella Lehner
Eoin Funnell
Matthew Couldery
Matthew Windsor
Jacob Plumtree-Jones
Anders Beavis-Berry
Will Roberts (Also Headsman)
Repetiteurs:
Toby Baker
Catherine Burne
Oscar Cooper-Spriggs
Matthew Couldery
Toby Cross
Barnaby Eddy
Cian O’Dwyer
Filip Petkovic
Jacob Plumtree-Jones
Dan Rees
Alice Whitten
Special thanks to…
G&S Committee
Video editing - Alex Bryan
Sound editing - Jordan Bryan
Cast Liaison - Hannah Komedera
Prop maker - Mark Higgins
UoB Guild of Students
GMTG & Panto Soc for use of props
17 сен 2024
