The award-winning Milborne Port Opera’s next offering ”Utopia Limited” (April 23-26) will delight anyone who believes our present situation has been caused by the antics of bankers, politicians, financiers and the absurdities of health and safety bureaucrats.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera is a satire about finance, royalty, bankruptcy, celebrity media and the mafia. It revolves around the small South Pacific island of Utopia’s attempts to turn itself into a limited company – with the help of British management consultants. En route, it also takes a swipe at the British Empire, overseas aid, The Lord Chamberlain (plays were censored by him right up to the 1968) and courtship rituals.
The Milborne Port production team have sharpened its satirical edge with some judicious re-writes and updating, which makes it as relevant today as it was to Victorian audiences. In fact it will leave you with the feeling that nothing much has changed.
It is one of G&S’s less well-known works. “ Utopia Limited” is Gilbert and Sullivan’s penultimate collaboration, and it the only G & S opera which has yet to be performed by the Milborne Port company.
Utopia stars its regular singers, including Horsington residents Richard Gaunt, playing the King of Utopia, and Chris Bailward.
Musical director Caroline d’Cruz conducts the talented orchestra. Stand by for a cracking evening.
The show runs at the Milborne Port Village Hall from April 23-26, the week after Easter. Tickets from boxoffice@milborneportopera.co.uk Telephone 07926 983585.
Visit Utopia and meet its citizens on www.visitutopia.co.uk
More about Milborne Port Opera on www.milborneportopera.co.uk
STOP PRESS
Horsington has been a great supporter of the MPO over the years, and this year is no exception. The Half Moon is running a minibus/coach to Utopia on Thursday 24th April. It will run from Wincanton via the Cheritons, Horsington, Templecombe and Henstridge. Cost will be £18 per head including admission ticket, interval drinks and canapés. A bargain start to the “season”.
Details and bookings from the Half Moon 01963 370140
“Utopia” is not a familiar Gilbert and Sullivan opera, but the adaptation for today and for Milborne Port Opera was excellent. Horsington can be proud of their stars of the show, Richard Gaunt as King Paramount and Chris Bailward as the tall and proud British Naval Officer. The latter you may be able to imagine, but can you imagine the former as an hilarious king of a south sea island, dressed in exotic clothes and a crown, topped with enormously high peacock feathers. He had a lot to say and even more to sing. You should definitely see it on Friday or Saturday evening.
Fantastic a great production , each year you all get better and better.
Not to be missed!
The annual excursion from the Half Moon to the MPO production Utopia was a triumph this year. A twenty strong party went by coach and watched a remarkable performance with some truly outstanding voices. The very entertaining story line was tweaked with some contemporary jokes to match the vocals. Forward planning made for a very refreshing interval thanks to Belindas canapes and Andrews fizz, the second half went all the better for it. If anyone reading this is considering going, take the plunge you won’t be disappointed. Well done and thank you MPO.
Marvellous! I’m really glad I made the trip to Utopia. A great production; well done all at MPO!