Spring Show Synopses

Sullivan:

The first part of our programme is a fully costumed, adapted concert version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’.

Fairies Celia and Leila meet up for a picnic and a good old gossip. Leila knows all there is to know and wastes no time in updating Celia with the latest events. She tells her that popular fairy Iolanthe is to be welcomed back into the fold after 25 years of living at the bottom of a stream. She should have been sentenced to death for marrying a mortal, but the Fairy Queen relented and commuted her sentence to banishment. It transpires that, following her banishment, Iolanthe had a son, Strephon, and chose to live at the bottom of a stream so that she could be near him. Strephon, who is an Arcadian shepherd, is in love with Phyllis, an Arcadian shepherdess, but he hasn’t told her that he is half a fairy (just the upper half – his legs are mortal). Phyllis’s guardian, the Lord Chancellor, and the Peers in the House of Lords are all in love with her and when Strephon seeks the Lord Chancellor’s permission to marry Phyllis, he refuses. As a result, the Fairy Queen decides to make Strephon a Member of Parliament which, with the help of the fairies, results in chaos.

Phyllis and the Peers see Strephon kissing a seemingly young woman and assume the worst, not realising that he is actually kissing his mother who appears younger than he is because, as everyone knows, fairies never grow old! He summons the Queen and Fairies for their help and soon the Peers and the Fairies are virtually at war, and long friendships are nearly torn asunder. However, as with all Gilbert & Sullivan plots, a solution is found and all ends happily ….. or does it?

Strauss:

The second half of our programme is based on the Act 2 party scene from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss (the younger). It is set in the Villa Orlovsky in Vienna. Dr. Falke is playing a practical joke on his friend Eisenstein (who has just been sentenced to 8 days in prison for a misdemeanour) and has invited him, his wife, her chambermaid, and the Governor of the prison to the party, all pretending to be someone else. This is all to get his own back for a joke played on him by Eisenstein, and also to amuse Prince Orlovsky who finds everything so very boring!.

In this section not only do we have the wonderful music of Strauss, but also a little bit of Offenbach thrown in.

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For an uplifting evening of fun, laughter and wonderful music, this is one not to be missed.

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