Off-Monroe Players — The Yeomen of the Guard (1995)

The Yeomen of the Guard

The Yeomen of the Guard — 1995

Season: Autumn 1995

Dramatis Personæ:

Wilfred Shadbolt (Jailer):

Brian Smith

Dame Carruthers:

Pamela Good

Lieutenant Cholmondely:

James Myers

Colonel Fairfax:

Bill DeMetsenaere

Sergeant Meryll:

Jimmie B Lobaugh

Phoebe Meryll, his daughter:

Lee Carter Browne

Leonard Meryll, his son:

Scot P. Reeder

Jack Point:

Gregory Ludek

Elsie Maynard:

Susanna Adams

Kate:

Sarah Zaffora-Reeder

Headsman:

Kevin Divico

First Yeoman:

John McCrank

Second Yeomen:

Bob Weeks

Yeomen of the Guard:

Rich Ambush, Ted Benedict, Terry Benedict, Tracy Burdick, Peter Dunbar, Brian May, Scot P. Reeder, Frank Reitze, David Schafer, Jerry Scrivens

Town people:

Dawn DesJardins, Christine M. Dettman, Julia Ferreira, Susan Gordon, Micaela Guiterrez, Isabel T. Henry, Jordu Kelly, Amanda Lobaugh, Patricia A. Montrois, Molly Moore, Jean Obernesser, Jean Ryon, Laurel Schneiderman, Diana Sheffer, Barbara VanDerWall, Susan Richards-Veronda, Sarah Zaffora-Reeder

Production Staff:

Director:

Peter Scribner

Stage Manager/Props:

Bodie McCaffrey

Music Director:

Linda Davis

Costume designer:

Maryanne Lettis

Choreography:

Kathy Perconti, Peter Scribner

Set Carpenter:

Jim Caffrey, David Schafer

Light designer & set design:

Peter Scribner

Scenic artist:

Tracy Burdick, Jimmie B Lobaugh

About The Yeomen of the Guard
Arthur Sullivan, a gifted composer, always wanted to create "the Great English Romantic Opera." Many — including myself — believe he did just that with Yeomen. Unique among the Savoy operas, the characters in Yeomen are grounded in reality. The philosophical Fairfax, brash Phoebe, jealous Wilfred, willing Elsie and, above all, cynical Jack Point, the Shakespearean Clown, are perhaps the most interesting characters in the whole Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire.

New to this production: Gilbert was concerned that Yeomen was all too serious for what was suppose to be a comic opera. Two songs were deleted from the first act when the production opened in 1888. Due to the diligent research of Off-Monroe's Internet guru — Bob Weeks — we have recovered the lyrics and music to both songs and have re-introduced them in this production. Wilfred the Jailer concludes the opening scene with Jealous Torments, a deliciously gruesome song exhibiting his bitter love for the winsome young Phoebe. And Sergeant Meryll proclaims in martial tones his fatherly pride in his hero son, Leonard (A Laughing Boy Just Yesterday). The song does not necessarily advance the plot, but it is a wonderful combination of paternal sentiment and military braggadocio.

Photos by Katherine M. O'Donnell

The Yeomen of the Guard — 1995 a