‘Lost’ classic is rediscovered

10:24am Friday 14th March 2008

Teddington's Normansfield Theatre made musical history last weekend when it hosted the only professional revival of Gilbert and Sullivan's Thespis since its premiere at the Gaiety in 1872.

This lost' masterpiece features a band of players who ascend Mount Olympus to give the Greek gods a year off to rejuvenate in the fleshpots of London but with woeful Olympian consequences.

In their first collaboration, Gilbert filed his libretto. But Sullivan reused his vocal settings for future operettas and only one song remains.

Undaunted, Timothy Henty and Anthony Baker have followed up clues left by Sullivan to create a new edition. With the London Kensington Sinfonia conducted by Timothy Henty, the result was a marvel of musical reconstruction, delivered by a 13-strong cast of tiptop G&S performers, playing to three packed houses.

The inimitable Richard Suart played the title role as an actor-manager on the lookout for a good booking for his troupe. He delivered with terrific panache.

There were also notable contributions from Giles Davies as the stage manager, doing his best to resolve Olympian marital problems, Miranda Westcott as a bridegroom singing the surviving original setting for Little Maid of Arcadee, and veteran Jill Pert giving a terrific turn as Diana the Huntress.

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