RETURNING to Pershore’s Number 8 this Saturday following a sell-out appearance last March is Worcester Gilbert & Sullivan Society with its latest production.
The group will perform works by Gilbert & Sullivan and Johann Strauss the Younger in Sullivan to Strauss, which features an adapted version of Iolanthe, which tells of the forest meeting between fairies Leila and Celia.
Iolanthe, once the life and soul of Fairyland, was banished for marrying a mortal. Now, pardoned by the Fairy Queen, she returns, still a beautiful young woman but with a 24-year-old son Strephon, who is half fairy, half mortal. He is in love with Phyllis, as is her guardian, the rather susceptible Lord Chancellor, and the entire House of Peers.
Phyllis has no idea that Strephon is half-fairy and mistakes a simple show of affection with Iolanthe for something more.
The complications wreak havoc as the immortal fairies find themselves at odds with the House of Peers, especially as Strephon, with the aid of the Fairy Queen, has entered Parliament himself.
The Strauss part of the programme is the second act of Die Fledermaus.
The plot centres on Dr Falke’s revenge for a practical joke played on him by his friend Eisenstein at a flamboyant party at Prince Orlovsky’s villa.
Falke has persuaded Eisenstein’s wife Rosalinda to masquerade as a Hungarian Countess and, not recognising her, Eisenstein – who is supposed to be in prison – flirts with her as she manages to extract a valuable watch from her husband, which she can use in the future as evidence of his impropriety.
Meanwhile, further fun is added with Rosalinda’s flirtatious maid Adele, pretending to be an actress, and Frank the governor of the prison where Eisenstein should be serving his sentence.
Sullivan to Strauss will start at 7.30pm at Pershore’s Number 8 and tickets cost £10. To book, call 01386 555488.
