First weaaing anniversary

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 2

First weaaing anniversary

Gareth Jones and Vivian Tiernev (above), principals in “H.M.S. Pinafore”, celebrated their first wedding anniversary in Christchurch yesterday. But apart from dining out after last evening’s performance there was no time for special festivities. The show must go on and, in any case, Vivian was committed to autographing D’Oyly Carte records in the afternoon at the Record Room. Nor did they have any time off on their wedding day in New York last year. “We got married at 2.15 p.m., followed by a champagne reception for the company and everyone went back to the show,” Vivian said. The couple met in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, “Pirates of Penzance,”

about five years ago. He was a pirate and she was a maid, partners in the chorus. “We did not like each other much then,” she said. “It was not until we got talking cne night after a concert — we had never had a chance to sit down and really get to know each other until then — that we found we got on very well.” About six weeks later they married. In “H.M.S. Pinafore”, now showing at the James Hay Theatre, the goldenvoiced Vivian plays Josephine, the headstrong daughter of Captain Corcoran. Gareth, who has a fine high baritone, is Bill Bobstay the boatswain, alternating as Gaptain Corcoran in some performances.

“It was terribly funny the first time I was Josephine and Gareth was ‘my father’,” Vivian said. “I could hardly suppress giggles in a very serious part of the show.” The couple are training for grand opera with the same teacher when in London, but have no company in mind to join when ready for roles. Vivian, who is 26, has been told that she will have a dramatic soprano voice when it matures and would love to sing “Mimi” some day. Gareth has his eye on Papageno in “The Magic Flute.” Before making their debuts in grand opera careers they want to have a family.

“It will take five years training before my voice is ready for operatic

work,” Vivian said. “My mother lives near London and is willing to baby-sit. The timing now seems right.” The two singers have discussed their future carefully and know what they want. “Marriage is the basis of our lives, though we shall always be in the theatre,” Gareth said. The D’Oyly Carte company usually plays 11 weeks in London and spends the rest of the year touring, apart from four weeks holiday. “We really cherish that month off in our home in London, though we enjoy travelling,” Vivian said. “I’m quite a homebody and Gareth enjoys interior decorating — painting and papering rooms.”