Fall 1984: Patience
Synopsis
Patience satirizes the "aesthetic craze" of the 1870's and '80s, when the output of poets, composers, painters and designers of all kinds was indeed prolific — but, some argued, empty and self-indulgent. This artistic movement was so popular, and also so easy to ridicule as a meaningless fad, that it made Patience a big hit. The topical nature of the story may make Patience somewhat less accessible to some modern audiences, and G&S fans tend to have strong feelings one way or the other about Patience.
All the well-born young ladies in the village, rapturously caught up in aestheticism, are in love with two contrasting aesthetic poets — a "fleshy" poet and an "idyllic" poet. But the poets are both in love with Patience, the simple village milkmaid, who cares nothing for poetry. Patience learns that true love must be completely unselfish--it must wither and sting and burn! The girls' military suitors don't see the point to aesthetics, but they decide to give it a try to win the women's hearts. It is touch and go for awhile, but everyone ends up with a suitable partner, even if it is only a tulip or lily.
Director: Scot Zaffora-Reeder
Music Director: Keith Conrad
Assistant Music Director: Julia Salter
Producers: Maureen Barry, Patti Anne Montrois
Cast
- Patience, A Dairy Maid
- Anne Virgil
- Reginald Bunthorne, A Fleshly Poet
- John Cieslinski
- Archibald Grosvenor, An Idyllic Poet
- George Maloney
- Colonel Calverley
- Michael Bellavia
- Major Murgatroyd
- Scott Smith
- The Duke of Dunstable
- Brian Smith
- The Lady Angela
- Kimberly McConnell
- The Lady Saphir
- Allyson Pilcher
- The Lady Ella
- Rebecca Maloney
- The Lady Jane
- Amy Vail
- Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor
- Phyllis Hazen
Chorus
Maureen Barry, Ted Benedict, Terry Benedict, Todd Calvin, Joe L. Cornish, Armand DeCaro, Christine Dettman, Peter Dunbar, Rob Edwardsen, Julia Ferreira, Elise Hill, Christy Jones, Maryanne Lettis, Mary Carol Maloney, Chris Mandery, Miriam Marshall, Patti Anne Montrois, Barbara Muller, Dan Ofsowitz, Wendy Webster, Scot Zaffora-Reeder
Orchestra
- Clavier Works
- Rob Edwardsen
Crew
- Props
- Maureen Barry, John Cieslinski
- Costume Managers
- Sarah Freeman, Eileen Smith
- Lighting Designer
- David Smith
- Makeup
- Christine Dettman, Brian Smith
- Photography
- Todd Calvin
- Program Design
- John Cieslinski, Fred Montrois