Patience
8th - 12th November 2011, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
Director: Cary Palmer
Musical Director: Gill Garside
Choreographer: Judith Thomas
Rehearsal Pianist: Graham Holmes
Production Secretary: Debbie Croll
| Patience | Polly Carnegie |
| Archibald Grosvenor | Tom Anderson |
| Reginald Bunthorne | Mel Barnes |
| Lady Angela | Sally Donaghey |
| Lady Saphir | Julie Baxter |
| Lady Ella | Jane Rutherford |
| Lady Jane | Fiona Barker |
| Colonel Calverley | Leslie Dumbell |
| Duke of Dunstable | Nicholas Harpur |
| Major Murgatroyd | John Slade |
| Bunthorne's Solicitor | Ted Ashton |
| CHORUS OF DRAGOON GUARDS AND RAPTUROUS MAIDENS | |
| Hon Capt Hugo Burton-Leigh & Lady Persephone | Philip Amtower & Joyce Amtower |
| Hon Capt Crofton Endres & Lady Verity | Nick Gane & Grace Stewart Hogg |
| Hon Capt Peregrine Poulteney & Lady Isabella | Dick Soper & Sarah Walkey |
| Hon Lt Rodwick Osborne & Lady Rose | Stan Chamberlain & Tracy Dougherty |
| Hon Lt Freddy Ponsonby-Smythe & Lady Sophronia | Mike Holland & Tam Alexander |
| Hon Lt James Braithwaite & Lady Amelia | Jules Mills & Amy Blofield |
| Hon Lt Edwin Waldegrave & Lady Iris | Terry Pasque & Caroline McCourt |
| Hon Lt Percy Farquahar & Lady Letitia | Ken Sawyer & Trish Barnard |
| Hon Lt Lionel Wilberforce & Lady Chastity | Dan Warren & Debbie Croll |
| Hon Ens Cuthbert Dibble & Lady Josephine | Steve Chapman & Florence Taylor |
| Hon Ens Thomas Franklin & Lady Phoebe | Greg Elvin & Diane Elvin |
| Hon Ens Charles Fitzwilliam & Lady Louisa | Bob Gee & Lesley Craig |
| Hon Ens Peter Blanding & Lady Eleanor | Gordon Hughes & Alison Dumbell |
Gloomy November and recession hit Britain was banished with this fun-filled frolic and discourse on love by good old Gilbert and Sullivan and the society lived up to its reputation by putting on a sparkling show and handling the witty quick fire lyrics superbly.
Colourful costumes and some lovely voices, not to mention lots of laughter, were the perfect antidote to the present day as we slipped back into the nostalgia of the late 19th century composers.
This was the turn of the aesthetic movement in arts and poetry to become the butt of the duo's wit as poets Bunthorne and Grosvenor compete for the love of Patience, a down to earth milkmaid.
The drifting nymphs and the upright dragoons were great fun particularly in the finale to Act 1. There were strong performances from Polly Carnegie as Patience, Tom Anderson as Archibald Grosvenor, but it was Nicholas Harpur as the Duke of Dunstable who had me grinning from ear to ear. The orchestra, under the direction of Gill Garside, was also excellent.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable evening which set everyone up for their return to the dank night outside and everyday reality.
— Lesley Anslow, Bury Free Press