Southgate Opera are back in Potters Bar next week with Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers.
The G&S operetta comes to the stage at the Wyllyotts Theatre from February 15 to February 18.
This joyful and fun operetta is beautifully sung by the talented voices of the principals and chorus of Southgate Opera.
The 12th collaboration between composer Arthur Sullivan and librettist W.S. Gilbert, the opera was first performed in 1889. It was immediately a success and is perhaps the happiest and sunniest of the series of Savoy Operas.
Gilbert wrote it as an ensemble piece between eight equal performers, in which no one was to be a star.
The Gondoliers is full of the usual G&S satirical comedy with the British legal system, navy and Parliament held up to ridicule – just what the public wanted in 1889 and still a source of comedy today.
Besides the humour, The Gondoliers features many wonderful songs – ‘Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes’, ‘When a Merry Maiden Marries’, ‘Dance a Cachucha’ – to name but a few.
The story follows the search for the rightful heir to the throne of the distant kingdom of Barataria by Casilda, who was married by proxy to The King when they were both babies.
There are a number of young gentlemen who could be The King! Who could the rightful heir be? Could he be one of two charming Venetian gondoliers, Giuseppe and Marco? They are excited by the prospect of being The King, but they have just married local girls.
Casilda’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro, are, of course, delighted that their daughter will be the queen.
However, the plot is further complicated by the fact that young queen Casilda loves another man.
In true G&S style the story does have a happy ending with some political satire and witty plot twists along the way.
Director Lee Mason brings her love and knowledge of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas to the stage with The Gondoliers - following on from her successful production of Princess Ida at Wyllyotts in 2019 and two other operas in 2022.
Lee always brings an exciting twist to her productions and continues to promote the opportunity for talented singers to perform as principals with Southgate Opera.
Sung in English by Southgate Opera, with orchestra, performances are at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Wyllyotts Place, off Darkes Lane, between Wednesday, February 15 and Saturday, February 18.
Performances start at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday.
Tickets are available from the Wyllyotts Theatre box office - telephone 01707 645005 or online at https://www.tickets.wyllyottstheatre.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here