And the Gazette's review of 14 November
1967...
Although
"Utopia Limited" is one of the least known operettas by Gilbert and
Sullivan, it was an excellent choice, and challenge, for the Marton Parish Church
Operatic and Dramatic Society, last night. The company opened for the week
in the church hall, and once again this gifted group, with a string of Gand
S successes behind them, were entirely equal to the demands made upon them. This
was particularly so in overcoming the difficulty of limited stage space, on
which it was by no means easy to achieve harmonious and moving deployments of
principals and chorus. At its best "Utopia Limited" has many items
at least equal to the better-known works and, perhaps, deserves wider distinction
that it has. The whole company soon captured the lively, merry mood of the
opera and the principals performed well with Ken Nicholls ("King Paramount")
claiming a double success, for he produced the opera as well. Other principals
included Joan Addison ("Princess Zara"), Michael Hilton ("Scaphio"),
Alan Judge ("Phantis"), Margaret Hinton ("Lady Sophy"). Other
members of the outstanding company were Donald Sheerin, Arthur Gladwin, Chris
Bennett, Eric Gilfoy, Stan Archer, John Burn, Peter Huscroft, Bill Partington,
Bebe Hilton, Dorothy Brookfield, Judith Morgan, Joan Carter, and Margaret Hayhurst. The
sure and decisive control of Robert Atherton, the conductor, brought out the
full capabilities of the vocal side. (The article
concludes with a list of chorus members.)
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