The Yeomen of the Guard (2005)

Gilbert & Sullivan's
The Yeomen of the Guard

June 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2005 at 8pm
June 12 & 19, 2005 at 2pm

Directed by Debbie Niezgoda
Music Directed by Joseph Sorge

Made possible in part by funding from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County and Sandy Spring National Bank.

Cast

Colonel Fairfax, under sentence of death - Philip Bender
Lt. Cholmendeley, of the Tower of London - William Weiss
Sergeant Meryll, of the Yeomen Warders - Matt Williams
Leonard Meryll, Sgt. Meryll's son - Jonathan Schultz
First Yeoman - Tom Pondolfino
Second Yeoman - Tom Goode
Wilfred Shadbolt, head jailor - Blair Eig
Jack Point, a strolling player - Michael Galizia (6/11 & 6/18)
John Boulanger (6/10, 6/12, 6/17, & 6/19)
Dame Carruthers, Tower Housekeeper - Lauren McDonald
Kate, her niece - Shaina Vatz
Phoebe Meryll, Sgt. Meryll's daughter - Alicia Oliver
Elsie Maynard, a strolling player - Denise Young
Headsman - B. Keith Ryder

Chorus
Maggie Andersen, Michelle Andersen, Jaime Atteniese,
Grace Brigham, Stephanie Brigham, Ed Byrdy, Michelle Dillingham, Rick Dupuy, Fran Fleming, Tom Fuchs, Jennifer Gavin,
Richard Gorbutt, Annie Gribben, William Gribben,
Lucy Hellerman, Tara Hockensmith, Marianna Martindale,
Jenny Minich, Gina Nowacki, Deborah Peetz, Cara Salvatore,
Nancy Shneiderman, Julie Stevens, Howard Weinstein, Clyde Wright

Orchestra

Violin I - Steve Natrella*, Bonnie Barrows, Carolyn Larson,
David Friedlander
Violin II - Andrew Nixon, Thomas Schneider, Martin Brown,
Peter Mignerey, Irv Berner
Viola - Amanda Laudwein, Victor Ontiveros
Cello - Rachel Jayson, David Dubov, Andrew Schneider
Bass - Pete Gallanis, Adriel Bettelheim, Alice Mignerey
Flute - Louise Hill, Jackie Miller
Oboe - Lori Guess
Clarinet - James Bensinger, Laura Langbein, Laura Bornhoeft
Bassoon - Sean Gumin, Susan Reynolds
Horn - Loren Krusberg, James Kocsis, Lora Katz
Trumpet - Bernie Rappaport, Curt Anstine
Trombone - Steve Ward, Frank Eliot, Alan Potter
Percussion - George Huttlin

Production Staff

Producer - Denise Young
Artistic Director - Rosalie Santilhano
Assistant Director - Michael Galizia
Assistant Music Director - Jennifer Craley Bland
Stage Manager - Kristin Shumaker
Assistant Stage Manager - Guillaume Toumiaire
Lighting Designer - Ayun Fedorcha
Set Designer - Kristen Lem
Costume Designer - Denise Young
Costume Construction - Rick Dupuy, Gaye Freese Jennifer Gavin, Tara Hockensmith, Lauren MacDonald, Alicia Oliver, Denise Young
Master Carpenter - William Kolodrubetz
Set Construction & Painting - Jaime Atteniese, Jonathan Brooks,
Ed Byrdy, Tony Dwyer, Lisa Freese, Pete Krueger,
Kristen Lem, David McGaughey, Tom Pondolfino
Technical Director (Rockville Civic Center) - Kim Haug
Running Crew - Tony Dwyer, William Kolodrubetz
Rehearsal Pianist - Jennifer Craley Bland, Deborah Jacobson,
Gay Hill
Make-Up & Hair Designer - Renee Silverstone
Make-Up & Hair Assistant - Stan Sustersic
Program - Leta Hall
Publicity - Sandy Rovner
Properties - Tara Hockensmith
House Management - Merle Haber
Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center & City of Gaithersburg
Printing - Quick Printing, Inc., Wheaton, Maryland

VLOC Appreciates
VLOC would like to extend its sincere thanks to: Scott Bloom, Christ Congregational Church, Gaye Freese, Lisa Freese, Grace Episcopal Church, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Music & Arts Music Store, Prince George's Little Theater, Rockville Little Theater, Rockville Musical Theater, Sandy Rovner, Sandy Spring National Bank, Rusty Suter, and Todd Whitehead for their efforts on its behalf.

Synopsis

Colonel Fairfax is under sentence of death because an unscrupulous relative has preferred a charge of sorcery against him in order to inherit the fortune which comes to him should Fairfax die unmarried. Fortunately, the Colonel has two friends in the Tower: the Lieutentant in charge and Sergeant Meryll of the Guards (as well as Meryll's daughter Phoebe, who loves the Colonel from afar). Meryll's son, Leonard, has been appointed a Yeoman, and his father plans to keep him in hiding, release Fairfax, and introduce him among the Yeomen as Leonard. Meanwhile, Fairfax has explained the reason for his predicament to the Lieutenant, who undertakes to find him a wife in a hurry so that the kinsman may be thwarted.

Jack Point and Elsie Maynard, two strolling players, arrive at the Tower and the Lieutenant induces her to agree to a marry Fairfax by the offer of money, badly needed for Elsie's sick mother. Point plans to marry Elsie himself, but, on being assured that the bridegroom will certainly be dead within the hour, agrees to the plan, and is appointed Lieutenant's Jester.

Phoebe steals the cell keys from Wilfred, the head jailor, and Fairfax is dressed as a Yeoman. All is ready for the execution when it is discovered that Fairfax has escaped! Jack Point is in despair and Elsie faints in the arms of Fairfax.

Elsie has been nursed back to health by Dame Carruthers, who reveals that the girl talks in her sleep, revealing her secret marriage to Fairfax (who is still disguised as Leonard). Point concocts a scheme with Wilfred to free Elsie from Fairfax: Wilfred will fire a shot, claiming to have killed the escaping prisoner as he tried to swim the river. This done, the citizens hail Wilfred as a hero.

Point proposes to Elise, but Fairfax steps in and carries her off. Wilfred learns the truth from Pheobe and blackmails her into agreeing to marry him. Dame Carruthers has overheard this and, in turn, captures Sgt. Merryl on the same terms. At Elsie's wedding to "Leonard" the reprieve arrives for Fairfax. Elsie is distraught but Fairfax reveals himself to her and all is set for a happy ending when the disconsolate Point arrives and the curtain falls on his sorrow amid the merriment of the crowd.

Musical Numbers

Overture

Act 1

When maiden loves, she sits and sighs (Phoebe)
When jealous torments rack my soul (Wilfred)
Tower warders, under orders (2nd Yeoman, People & Yeomen)
When our gallant Norman foes (Dame Carruthers & Yeomen)
A laughing boy (Sergeant Meryll)
Alas! I waver to and fro (Phoebe, Leonard, & Sgt. Meryll)
Is life a boon? (Fairfax)
Here's a man of jollity (People, Elsie, & Jack Point)
I have a song to sing, O! (Elsie & Point)
How say you, maiden, will you wed? (Elsie, Point, & Lieutenant)
I've jibe and joke (Point)
'Tis done! I am a bride! (Elsie)
Were I thy bride (Phoebe)
Oh, Sergeant Meryll, is it true (Ensemble)

Act 2

Night has spread her pall once more (People, Yeomen, & Dame Carruthers)
Oh! a private buffoon is a light-hearted loon (Point)
Hereupon we're both agreed (Point & Wilfred)
Free from his fetters grim (Fairfax)
Strange adventure! (Kate, Dame Carruthers, Fairfax, & Sgt. Meryll)
Hark! What was that, sir? (Elsie, Phoebe, Dame Carruhhers, Fairfax, Wilfred, Point, Sgt. Meryll, Lieutenant, Sgt. Meryll & Chorus)
A man who would woo a fair maid (Fairfax, Elsie, & Phoebe)
When a wooer goes a-wooing (Elsie, Phoebe, Fairfax, & Point)
Rapture, rapture! (Dame Carruthers & Sgt. Meryll)
Comes the pretty young bride (Ensemble)