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Gilbert, Sullivan, D'Oyly Carte and the Dibdens
Taplow has had a St Nicolas Church for over 1,300 years. The current one is a mere whippersnapper of 100. Its centenary year celebrations got off to a memorable start on 14th January when G&S graced us with their presence. The church was packed to the rafters to witness two dimensions of WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan - an engaging semi-dramatised presentation of their lives followed by a fabulous performance of Trial by Jury, their second collaboration, still going strong after 137 years. In all, the assembled multitude saw 16 actors, a 19-piece orchestra and a chorus of 74 Victoriana-attired locals perform admirably under the accomplished baton of the renowned Gillian Dibden. Three of the soloists have long been in Gillian's tender loving care - Lucy Morris (the fainting Plaintiff) was formerly of Taplow Youth Choir, Gareth Watkins (the Defendant) a dedicated choirboy at Desborough Boys School, and her son,Mark Griffiths (the Learned Judge), Musical Director of the prize-winning chamber choir, Coro, and Director of Junior Choirs at Trinity College of Music. Roger Askew took time off from being Founder Chairman of the Stoke Poges Society to evolve from Sullivan in the first half of the evening to Counsel for the Plaintiff in the second. Roger le Clerq's evolution took a parallel path from Richard D'Oyly Carte to the Court Usher. Charles Bates gave us Gilbert, and Jean Porter all the female roles in the sparkling first half, but most hearts were melted by the second-half contributions of Lily Begley, Jasmine Fone, Luisa Kent, Tamsin Ratciff and Amelia and Florence Snoxell as the Bridesmaids, and by the Pageboys, Daniel and Max O'Brien. Grateful thanks were also due to the offstage team of a dozen or more and especially to the Reverend Alan Dibden resplendent in an open-necked shirt to match his open-toed sandals. Nigel Smales
