Pacific Opera’s ‘The Gondoliers’ – A Re-imagined Dream

Pacific Opera – ‘the young artists opera company’ presents a re-imagined version of the Gilbert and Sullivan favourite.

The Gondoliers Dream Getaway will turn what you know of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic on its head. It’s a journey from the mundane office politics of a local travel agency to a dreamscape of whirlwind romances and international espionage. 

‘It’s a feel-good fantasy, a world that transcends the banal whilst including all the classic tunes of the Gilbert and Sullivan score,’ said director, Nicholas Cannon. 

The set and lighting design by Lucy Scott and Sophie Pekilimbli, transport the audience from a colourless travel agency to a hyper-real Venice with undertones of a 1960’s James Bond film.  

The storyline has been re-written by composer and librettist George Palmer. Palmer is a well-known Australia composer whose works have been performed by leading orchestras, soloists and chamber groups throughout Australia and New Zealand, and in the USA and Europe.  

“To audiences it offers an entirely new insight into Gilbert and Sullivan’s familiar territory. In a completely revolutionary way we are expressing the work in contemporary idioms and plot situations,” said Palmer. 

The show has been reduced to a fast-paced ninety minutes. Bringing a wealth of expertise to the production is Adrian Bendt, an established Music Director who has recently returned from the world tour of The Phantom of the Opera. “It’s modernised and quirky. It’s contemporised – it’s fast moving. We have completely new orchestrations,” says Bendt of Palmer’s adaptation. “The music has been specifically orchestrated for our singers and has an intimate chamber-like feel to it”. 

“(The singers) are full of energy and wonderful spirit, showing lots of exciting potential for the future of opera in this country,’ says Cannon. 

 This is a production of Gondoliers with a twist (shaken not stirred).

The cast:

Duke/Mr Ducati – Blake Parham/Duchess/Mrs Ducati – Marisa Panzarin/Marco – Rocco Speranza/Giuseppe – Nikolas Roglich/Casilda – Emma Hansen/Tessa – Jessica Harper/Gianetta – Crystal Wei/Fiametta – Elizabeth Beilharz (Understudy Casilda/Gianetta)/Antonio/Chorus – Matthew Avery/Luiz/Chorus – Michale Gioiello/The Consul-General/Joe Grimaldi – Sepehr Irandoost (Understudy Giuseppe)/Emilio/Chorus – Emillio Mancia/Francesco/Chorus – Chamberlain Zhang/Natasha/Chorus – Pamela Andrews (Understudy Duchess/Mrs Ducati)/Giulia/Chorus – Yeou-Ling Wen/Vittoria/Chorus –  Zanelle Ramsay.

Tickets: Adult $55; Under 35 & Student $30

Bookings: Click here or call the Riverside Theatre Box Office on 02 8839 3399