The Gondoliers Cruise Into Town
Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney presents The Gondoliers – arguably the funniest, most popular and toe-tappingly tuneful of all the Savoy operettas, it is the timeless comic tale of love conquering just about every imaginable obstacle.
It’s 18th century Venice and two very popular gondoliers, Marco and Guiseppe, must disappoint their new brides Tessa and Gianetta (not to mention a couple of dozen admiring flower girls) when they discover that not only are they not brothers but one of them is a king and was promised in childhood to Casilda, daughter of the eccentric Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro. She, meanwhile, is secretly in love with Luiz, the commoner who serves as valet, drummer and general whipping boy to her parents. Enter the mysterious Grand Inquisitor Don Alhambra (don’t mention the Spanish Inquisition!) who thinks he can sort it out – possibly with the help of the boys’ even more mysterious mother.
But the course of love – whether true or arranged – never did run smooth, especially when a couple of jilted brides think one of them is now a queen – and understandable rivalries bubble over! Add a chorus of beautiful flower girls and admiring gondoliers (avowed republicans who find themselves temptingly transported to exalted positions at the royal court) and you have the recipe for a singing, dancing masterpiece of musical merriment – with a delicious satire on class snobbery thrown in!
Directed by Gordon Costello, with musical director Rod Mounjed and choreographer Elizabeth Lowrencev, The Gondoliers stars Dean Sinclair, Michael Bond, Anthony Mason, Spencer Darby, Tristan Entwistle, Johanne Perera, David Budden, Matt Cobb-Clark, Gary Selby, Catherine Bulfin, Stephanie Jennifer Poropat, Marisa Panzarin, Anne-Louise Finlayson, Minh Huynh, Ella Arendelle, Amy Balales and Christine Premdas-Rogers.
Tickets: $40 (earlybird to 31 Aug $35) | conc + groups 10+ $35 (earlybird $32) /Children <16 $25 ($22) | groups 20+ $30 | family pass (avail to 31 August) $95
Bookings: www.gsosydney.com.au Enquiries: 0412 820 519
Special preview performances:
Bundanoon
Sat 12 Sept 3pm – Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, Railway Street/Tickets: Adult $25 | Concession $20 | Child under 16 $15
Bookings: Gale 4883 7195 or online www.gsosydney.com.au
Narrabeen
Sun 20 Sept 2pm – Montgomery Pavilion Theatre/RSL ANZAC Village, Veterans Parade
TICKETS: Adult $25 | Concession $20 | Child under 16 $15
Bookings: www.gsosydney.com.au Enquiries 0412 820 519
