BUTTERFLY wings featured brightly in a musical production at the weekend, in Woodley’s Oakwood Centre.
Iolanthe, by Gilbert and Sullivan, is also known as The Peer And The Peri (or fairy).
This production, performed by local amateur operatic company, Mostly G&S, was charming.
The audience were tapping feet throughout, breaking into laughter, and thoroughly enjoying the jokes and performances.
The operetta is a witty, satirical and at times absurd picture of Victorian politics and institutions.
In it, straight-backed, ineffective, dim-witted peers of the realm battle with a throng of flitting, flighty fairies.
More different groups it would be difficult to dream up.
Both sides argue about whether they should inter-marry.
Meanwhile, Strephon (Anthony Huggett), a shepherd and half fairy (the top half) wants to marry Phyllis (Laura Curtis-Dagg), a beautiful human, and ward of the court.
However, she is under the guardianship of the lord chancellor (Stuart Neal), who also has amorous intentions towards her, along with half of the House of Lords.
The course of true love never did run smooth, and Gilbert and Sullivan gleefully add ridiculous obstacles to romantic endeavour.
When Strephon’s mother Iolanthe (Jenny Spence), is released from long banishment for the sin of marrying a mortal, by the Queen of The Fairies, she greets and embraces her son.
Phyllis sees and mistakes maternal affection for a secret affair of the heart, forgetting that fairies, as everyone knows, never grow old.
Disappointment leads to war, and war leads to a lot of funny songs.
And of course, everything ends happily in the end.
It’s that kind of show.
This community event was produced by husband-and-wife team, Rachel and Matt Meyer.
It is a company that obviously delights in being together.
After weeks working on the lyrics and humour of the piece, the fruits of their labour delighted the audience, who loved the story, the lyrics and the engaging performances.
They especially enjoyed the brightly coloured wings revealed by the entire cast at the end of the play, along with the line, “We’re all fairies.”
It was wonderfully silly, and definitely “A night to chase the gloomy day when all is drear and dark.”
All the numbers were ably accompanied by piano (Jo Miller-Shepherd, Flute (Debbie King), and percussion (Paul Netherton).
The performance group is actively seeking new members.
As their name implies, they love the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, but enjoy exploring other operettas too.
They meet every Wednesday evening at Brookside Church, Earley from 7.45pm to 9.45pm.
No audition is necessary, and although sight reading is useful, it’s not essential.
Anyone who loves to sing, would like to perform operettas, and is looking for a warm welcome, should contact the group at: www.mostlygands.co.uk email [email protected] or call: 01635 522750.
