OPERA REVIEW : ‘Patience’ Camps Out at Newport Theatre

Community theater groups understandably fall in love with the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, but their productions too often resemble the curse of a fatal attraction more than the bliss of “Oh, promise me.”

Such is the case with the campy, exaggerated, unfocused production of “Patience,” directed by Kent Johnson, at the Newport Theatre Arts Center, which opened Friday and runs through July 1.

Johnson doesn’t trust the work or take it seriously enough. He encourages the community cast figuratively to wink and nod as well as speak the lines, many of which are just thrown away. Actors slip in and out of bizarre accents. Everything is whomped up, leveling all satire and pathos out.

This is a “Patience” that looks better than it sounds. Singing often takes a back seat to simply speaking on vague tones, disregarding the composer’s real pitches. A three-piece ensemble (pianist Marilyn Montanari, keyboardist Joe Mulroy and drummer Randy Woltz) reduces Sullivan’s score to rootie-tootie accompaniment. Tim Nelson is credited for the musical direction.

In the title role, Margie Taylor looks appealing and sings with a cutting soprano but fails to register credible changes between happiness and despair.

John Massey makes a blustery, unconvincing Bunthorne and sings with threadbare voice. Ed Schuyler offers a handsome Grosvenor, noticeably short on breath.

Linda Goldsmith ventures an intelligent, if occasionally vulgar Lady Jane, and sings with the apparent remnants of a voice.

Melinda Miller and Cece Moore make an attractive Lady Angela and Lady Saphir, respectively.

The eight dragoons provide spirit. Steven Moritsugu makes an energetic Colonel. Don Johnson, however, mistakes the Duke for a white-bread rock ‘n’ roll singer.

Some of the best effects--oversized cutouts of a cello or of Gilbert’s Bab Ballad drawings--are provided by set designer Jeff Ault.

Jane Hobson created the simplistic lighting design; Lia M. Hansen, the serviceable costumes.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Patience” will play Thursdays through Sundays, through July 1, at the Newport Theatre Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach. Performances begin at 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets: $10. Information: (714) 631-0288.