WORCESTER Gilbert and Sullivan Society were on top form in their story of "the peer and the peri", and obviously enjoyed every minute of this wonderful operetta - as did the audience.

Robert Hanna was brilliant as the Lord Chancellor. Anyone who can actually get through the Nightmare song with clear (and faultless) diction, and doesn't end up gasping for breath, has my greatest admiration. I have tried to sing this, libretto in hand, along with my CD but have never made it to the end!

Another outstanding performance came from Andrew Rawle, Iolanthe's son, Strephon, who is a fairy down to the waist, but the rest of him is human. At first I thought him a little OTT, but the character demands a strong performance, and he really did dominate the stage, he has a superb personality and he can deliver a song, though is not a great singer.

I came away thinking he really belongs on the professional stage, then read the programme notes and learned that he has worked in pro theatre for more than 25 years.

Peter Key and Dave Scott were good as the two peers who become engaged to Phyllis (played by Cherril Watkins), who has become disillusioned with Strephon, believing her unfaithful to him when she sees him kissing his mother who, being a fairy, looks younger than her son.

There were competent performances by Rebecca Fearnley, as Iolanthe, and the three leading fairies, Paula Potter, Catherine Harvey and Bethan Corlett, and Jo Williamson was an excellent Fairy Queen.

Trevor Guest played the small, but important, role as Private Willis, extremely well, and the choruses were superb.

The orchestra were, at times, a little shaky, but in the main coped well with Sir Arthur's glorious music.

VJS