Just because they’re Victorian doesn’t mean they’re outdated.
In fact, Gilbert and Sullivan’s messages about the perils of ineffective and incompetent politicians may just ring a little bit too true for modern audiences.
FVGSS – a Musical Theatre Company (formerly the Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society) is bringing Iolanthe to the stage at the Anvil Centre Theatre from May 16 to 20.
The comic opera is a fantasy tale that brings together fairies and Parliament. It tells the story of the fairy Iolanthe, who married a mortal and was banished from fairyland because such marriage is forbidden by fairy law. Now her son, Strephon, wants to marry Phyllis, a ward of the Lord Chancellor.
But, naturally, the course of true love fails to run smooth, and chaos ensues on all fronts.
As with all Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, the plot toys with the idea of incompetent and untrained people who rise to power and control everyone else – “the joke that never dies,” as the company notes in a press release.
They’re hoping to see local audiences turn out to embrace the production, despite the fact that it may not be widely familiar.
“One of the greatest struggles in mounting a Gilbert and Sullivan show in 2018 is the fact that the popularity has waned over the past few generations,” said Barbie Warwick, president of the company, in a press release. “People who recognize the name G&S are either over 70 years old or ‘music geeks.’ The majority of the population isn’t familiar with them. This is a shame because Gilbert and Sullivan were so ahead of their time, and their shows are very relevant to today’s society. They push against cultural mores and they use their wit to take the establishment and politicians to task.”
Anvil Centre is at 777 Columbia St. For tickets, see www.ticketsnw.ca or call the box office at 604-521-5050.
