TARVES

The ladies of the Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society are in the process of turning themselves into pre-Raphaelite beauties for the forthcoming production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Patience’ at Haddo House Hall on April 12^th, 13^th .and 14^th.

The costumes, made by a team led by Heather Munroe, are diaphanous garments in jewel colours and will be adorned with peacock feathers, silks and beads. Their hair will be curled into ringlets, all in an attempt to recreate the look of the aesthetic movement of the 1880s, most famously illustrated in the paintings of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

The aesthetes believed that art did not have any practical purpose; it needed only be beautiful. They developed a cult of beauty, which they considered the basic factor of art – life should copy art, they asserted, not the other way around. Oscar Wilde was the most prominent of the poets of the movement.

Gilbert and Sullivan were writing operettas at this time and obviously found the movement a little ridiculous, with their poetic outpourings and dramatic posturings, and wrote ‘Patience’ as a hilarious satire on them. It was the partnership’s first big success, with delightful tunes and catchy duets and ensemble numbers. Although aestheticism is now long gone, the jokes are not lost on us these days; laughing at the pretentious is an enduring sport!

Alice Dennis, who is conducting the show which boasts a professional orchestra said; ‘Everyone is having a real laugh rehearsing this show. We have some very strong actors, including our over dramatic ladies who swoon over every line uttered by the two poets, Bunthorne and Grosvenor, even when their poetry is less than inspiring! Its possibly the funniest of all the G & S operettas. The set and costumes are looking beautiful, its a show not to miss!’

‘Patience’ can be seen at Haddo House Hall on April 12^th, 13^th and 14^th at 7,30pm. Tickets are £18, £15 (concs) and £9 (for primary aged children) and discounts are available for block bookings on application.

‘Friends of HHCOS’ can take up the offer of a reserved comfortable armchair – application forms for ‘Friends’ are found on the Society’s website.

Tickets are on sale now online at www.hhcos.org.uk/boxoffice and on 01651 851111

Remember the clocks GO FORWARD one hour tonight.

In aid of Tarves Community Garden Project.

Pupils in Barthol Chapel Primary School were lucky enough to receive a visit from local Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley. Hannah was making a visit within her role of “Ambassador” with the “Wells Sports Foundation”, which aims to bring athletes to schools in order to inspire pupils to take up sport and lead healthy lives.

The pupils in the small school had spent many weeks preparing for Hannah’s visit which was organised through local Active Schools Coordinator, Erica Jones. The pupils had prepared a wall display and many questions for the international swimmer. They greeted her with her favourite song and presented her with a gift of her favourite energy food and also a lucky mascot to take to the Olympics with her this summer. Hannah will compete in the 200m and 400m Individual Medley events in London 2012.

Hannah spoke to the pupils about her training lifestyle and her travels and she visibly inspired the pupils, some of which swim at her local club, Garioch. All of the senior pupils took part in a 10 week swimming programme organised by Active Schools last year and hope to be attending swimming lessons again in term 4.