Wolverton Gilbert and Sullivan Society are back on stage next week, with Iolanthe.
Considered by some the funniest of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas it tells the story of a shepherd boy’s attempt (with the aid of some feisty fairies) to overthrow the privileges enjoyed by the nobility. The 1880 satire is not wasted even today.
Here's the full low-down...
Iolanthe returns to Fairyland after 25 years, banished for the crime of marrying a mortal.
A son, Strephon, had resulted from the marriage and he wishes to marry Phyllis, but he requires the consent of her guardian, the Lord Chancellor.
He shows little enthusiasm for his ward marrying a shepherd and, besides, he and the entire House of Lords have their eyes on Phyllis.
Strephon turns to his mother, Iolanthe, for comfort, but Phyllis misinterprets their intimacy.
As a fairy Iolanthe has not aged and Phyllis believes Strephon to be unfaithful. She renounces her love for him. His protests of innocence are met with derision by Phyllis and the Peers.
Phyllis and the Peers cannot be persuaded despite the intervention of the Fairy Queen. There is stand-off between the Peers and the fairies. Furious at their attitude, the Fairy Queen declares that Strephon will enter Parliament and work to rid the nobility of all its privileges.
Despite his success in Westminster, Strephon finds it no substitute for Phyllis and so reveals his origins to her. He explains Iolanthe's youthfulness and the couple become re-engaged.
At Strephon's request, Iolanthe puts their case to the Lord Chancellor, but he has decided to marry Phyllis. Iolanthe at great risk to herself is forced to reveal her true identity.
It then emerges that the other fairies have committed the ultimate offence and married other mortals, the Peers.
The Lord Chancellor suggests that the law be amended so that a fairy may marry a mortal.
The Queen happily selects a mortal for herself and invites the whole company to join her in Fairyland...
Graham Breeze, who always brings a star quality to each performance, will direct, and the production will be accompanied by the Wolverton Light Orchestra under the leadership of Mike Crofts, a very active musician and conductor in the Milton Keynes music scene.
Iolanthe shows at Stantonbury Campus Theatre from Wednesday, March 27 to Saturday, March 30.
Tickets for the show are £17 for adults, £15 for over 60s/unwaged and £5 for under 14s.
To book yours, click here
