The Maleny Singers will present Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic operetta “Yeomen of the Guard”, with profits going to the Maleny Rural Fire Brigade.

Set in London’s famous Tower, the story revolves around the heroic Colonel Fairfax (tenor Colin Dunn) and a troupe of travelling minstrels. Fairfax has been condemned to be beheaded for sorcery, but has secret allies in the Sergeant of the Guard (bass Ian MacMaster ) and his winsome daughter, Phoebe (mezzosoprano Viera Keogh ).

Dame Carruthers (alto Ruth Rix) gives us some history of the Tower. Enter the minstrels, led by Jack Point (baritone Ian Rix)  and Elsie Maynard (soprano Evalee Sharples). The Lieutenant of the Tower ( bass-baritone Tony Glazebrook ) is inveigled into helping Fairfax in a sub-plot.

In the Act 1 Finale, the Yeomen chorus greets a new recruit, but the mood turns sombre as the Headsman ( Connor Keogh) enters to the tolling of the funeral bell. Three guards exit to bring in the prisoner from his cell – but he is not there !                            Brilliant Sullivan ensemble pandemonium ensues.

Act 2 sees the ladies berating the Yeomen warders for letting their prisoner escape. Head jailer and assistant tormentor Wilfred Shadbolt ( baritone Knox Cameron ) has lost his jobs, so he and Point concoct a plan to state that Fairfax has been shot while attempting to swim the Tower moat. This is followed by typical G&S romantic links being forged, even though two reluctant partners need to be blackmailed, and one finds happiness at the jester’s expense.    

Directed by Margaret Taylor, the show will be accompanied by the Maleny Performing Arts Orchestra.

Come and enjoy the costumes, sets, music, and comedy, and support Maleny’s Fire Brigade in the bargain !