HEREFORD Gilbert and Sullivan Society promises to live the spirits with its sparkling musical comedy production of The Gondoliers, set in sunny Venice.
Following a number of award-winning productions, this show is one of the most popular of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, with colourful costumes and sets, a hilariously complicated plot and some of Sullivan’s most joyful songs including Dance a Cachucha, Then One of Us Will Be a Queen and When a Merry Maiden Marries.
The story tells of two handsome gondoliers who choose their brides in a game of blind man’s bluff, but find out later on that one of them was swapped as a baby, and is really the king of the nearby island of Barataria. The situation is further confused by the arrival of a Duke and Duchess from sunny Spain, claiming that their daughter was married as a baby to this same king.
With an apparent lack of tenor soloists in the area, the society has once again hired the services of professional actor and singer Russell Painter (who sang the role of Alexis in the society’s award-winning production of The Sorcerer in 2009) as Marco, who sings the famous Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes.
Opposite him will be regular soprano principal Laura Durman as Gianetta, society stalwart Jonathan Sayce as Guiseppe and talented newcomer Leanne Player as Tessa.
The Duke and Duchess are played by the established comedy team of Gill Haslam and Alan Durman, and their daughter, Casilda, will be played by gifted musician Hannah Roper.
Hannah will once again play opposite her father, as she did in Iolanthe, here playing the Duke’s servant, with whom Casilda is secretly in love. Making his debut as a soloist is James Butterworth, playing the Grand Inquisitor of Spain.
The show is being directed once again by international award-winning director, Alistair Donkin.
The musical director is Alan Durman, and the conductor of the society’s own orchestra is Matt Hunt, fresh from his triumph at Kingstone High School with Miss Saigon.
Hereford Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents The Gondoliers at The Courtyard from tonight (Thursday)until Saturday, at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.
To book, call the box office on 01432 340555
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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