GILBERT and Sullivan fans have something to look forward to this month.
Three concert performances of the musical duo’s comic opera, Iolanthe, will be given by Park Opera.
The company usually performs two major pieces in Bracknell each year, employing full professional orchestras for its productions and drawing principals of a high standard, often aspiring young singers beginning their careers.
It also takes simpler concert performances to local churches in the area.
Park Opera’s Iolanthe will see a full cast of singers, but with piano accompaniment rather than full orchestra.
The show is filled with memorable tunes and is suitable for all ages.
Chair of Park Opera, Sallie Ward says:
“The music is delightful, with some beautiful melodies.
“And the songs are very funny too, particularly the fairies’ music.
“They sing about being dainty little fairies, but the clunky rhythmic tune they are given suggests that they will be neither dainty nor fairy-like on stage.
“Our singers are very much enjoying rehearsals and they love the comic music.”
Iolanthe describes confrontation between fairies and mortals.
It is also a comic satire that draws attention to aspects of society, the law, and the workings of the British government.
It’s Gilbert & Sullivan at their satirical best, poking fun at power, privilege and parliamentary democracy.
Iolanthe, the title role, is a fairy who has stepped out of line.
Despite it being forbidden in fairyland, she has married a human and has been subsequently banished by the queen of the fairies for her crime.
She spends her banishment alone in a frog-infested pit, missing not only her husband but also her son Strephon, now a young man.
Strephon is half human: fairy down to his waist, but with the legs of a man.
Employed as a shepherd, he is in love with a young human, Phyllis.
But she is a ward of court, and to marry her Strephon needs the permission of the Lord Chancellor.
However, this gentleman, along with half of the House of Lords, has the same idea.
And when Iolanthe finally returns to fairyland and embraces her son, she is mistaken by Phyllis as his lover.
Phyllis, believing she has been deceived by Strephon, sets in motion a full-blown confrontation between fairies and peers.
A series of ridiculous mishaps and mischiefs ensue in the form of mistaken identities, revelations, and even changes to the law.
All these are marked throughout the opera with absurdly comic lyrics and music.
“Our concert performances will see the chorus singing from the book, but our soloists will be performing their roles freely,” explains Sallie.
“There will be indications of costume, but this is not a fully staged production.
“The company will sing to piano accompaniment, not a full orchestra.”
Park Opera relies on its smaller shows to help fund bigger staged productions.
“Opera is a very expensive hobby,” Ms Ward continues, “and we spend a lot of money hiring in orchestras for our big productions.
“So our touring concert performances are really important fundraisers for us.
“This show is funny and entertaining.
“With sections being narrated, it’s a little shorter than the fully staged version, but we’re convinced our audiences will go home singing and laughing.
“And for anyone concerned about late October temperatures, we’ve been assured that the churches will be warm.”
Brian Chapman is musical director, and accompanist is Jo Miller Shepherd.
Ian Henderson plays the Lord Chancellor, George Priestley is Strephon, Lucy Dickson is Phyllis, and Diana Vivian plays The Fairy Queen.
Iolanthe takes place in three locations on three consecutive nights.
All performances start at 7.30pm.
On Thursday, October 20 at St Michael’s Church, Bray SL6 2AB
On Friday, October 21 at St John’s Church, Windlesham GU20 6BL
And on Saturday, October 22 at All Saints Church, Woking GU21 5SH
Tickets cost £12 for adults and £6 for children.
Refreshments will be available in the interval.
For tickets and information log onto: www.ticketsource.co.uk/parkopera
Or email: tickets@parkopera.org.uk
