The South Australian Light Opera Society’s next production is Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe, directed by Maria Davis. One of the lesser known of the Savoy Operas, Iolanthe sees Gilbert taking aim at the political arena of the time, and being especially cruel to the House of Lords who he portrays as ineffective and unintelligent.

Iolanthe (Dione Baker) has been banished from fairyland for marrying a mortal. Her son, Strephon (Aled Proeve), wants to marry Phyllis (Danielle Ruggiero-Prior), a ward of Chancery, but all of the peers have the same aim.  The Lord Chancellor (Damon Hill) is her guardian, but is unwilling to make a choice, and Phyllis rejects all the peers.  The peers, led by Tolloller (Benjamin Fleming) and Mountararat (Graham Loveday), with Phyllis, see Strephon embracing his mother (fairies remain excessively young) and accuses him of infidelity.

A host of fairies, including Rebecca Kmit (the Queen), Rhiannon Curtis (Celia), Alex Fowler (Leila) and Rachel Lee (Fleta) begin to fall in love with the peers, while Private Willis (Jason Clark), on guard at the Palace of Westminster, reflects on political life before falling for the Queen of the fairies.  A chorus of fairies, dryads, brownies, pixies, mushrooms and peers complete a stunning cast.

Like all of the Savoy Operas, Iolanthe is full of the delightful music of Sullivan and the biting wit of Gilbert. You will be enchanted by Tripping hither (Chorus of Fairies), None shall Part us (Phyllis and Strephon), When I went to the bar (Lord Chancellor), When all night long a chap remains (Willis) and When Britain really ruled the waves (Mountararat), all backed by a talented orchestra under the baton of Kate White, with choreography by Deborah Proeve and colourful costumes of the era to complete a truly wonderful show.

Tickets – call Pam 8294 6582