IOLANTHE
Director: Michael Blatt • Music Director: Laura Ravotti
Concerts October 22 - November 30, 2017 • Performances November 4-26, 2017
Since its sparkling 1882 premiere at London’s new Savoy Theatre (the first to be fitted with electric lights, making all manner of magical effects possible), the fantastical satire Iolanthe has delighted audiences with its clever combination of romance, humor, political satire, and the memorable musical numbers that made Gilbert and Sullivan household names. In the opera, the fairy Iolanthe has been banished from fairyland because she married a mortal; this forbidden by fairy law. Her son, Strephon, is an Arcadian shepherd who wants to marry Phyllis, a Ward of Chancery. All the members of the House of Peers also want to marry Phyllis. When Phyllis sees Strephon hugging a young woman, she assumes the worst and sets off a climactic confrontation between the peers and the fairies. The opera satirizes many aspects of British government, law and society. The confrontation between the fairies and the peers is a version of one of Gilbert’s favorite themes: a tranquil civilization of women is disrupted by a male-dominated world through the discovery of mortal love.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
CONCERTS
Sunday, October 22 at 2pm - Finkelstein Library
Sunday, October 29 at 2pm - Suffern Library
Thursday, November 30 at 8pm - Five Star Premier Residences of Teaneck
FULL PERFORMANCES
Saturday, November 4 at 7:30pm - Ridgewood United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 5 at 3pm - Ridgewood United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 12 at 3pm - Ridgewood United Methodist Church
Sunday, November 19 at 3pm - Heritage Village, CT
Sunday, November 26 at 3pm - Fair Lawn Community Center
IOLANTHE CAST LIST
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Lord Chancellor .................................................................................................................................................................................................. Peter O’Malley
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Lord Mountararat .......................................................................................................................................................... Robert Prowse (November 4, 12, 26)
Frank Skokan (November 5, 19)
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Lord Tolloller .................................................................................................................................................................. Philip Sternenberg (November 4, 19)
Joe Rothstein (November 5, 12, 26)
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Private Willis ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... John Holmboe
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Strephon .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Malik Squire
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Queen of the Fairies .............................................................................................................................................................. Eva Giorgi (November 4, 12, 26)
Eileen Mager (November 5, 19)
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Iolanthe ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Sarah Strickland
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Celia .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Jamie Roitman
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Leila ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Carol Ciancia
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Felta .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Kathleen Meagher
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Phyllis ................................................................................................................................................................................ Veronica Shea (November 4, 12, 26)
Angela Scorese (November 5, 19)
Fairies ........................................................................................................................................................... Joan Barker, Rhonda Cooperstein, Barbara Domini,
Eileen Karlson, Jennifer Low, Maryanne Rauschenbach, Sarah Rauschenbach, Judith Weis
Peers ........................................................................................................... Larry Bogert, Bob Bromberg, Tim Domini, Stephen Kiss, John Ryle, Tim Schwartz
MAPS TO PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS
Enter your address below and your mode of transportation for step-by-step directions to our performance spaces, Ridgewood United Methodist Church & Fair Lawn Community Center. If you have any further questions, contact us on our contact page!