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The Gondoliers

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February 20, 21, 22, 2003 on the Main Stage, Confederation Centre in Charlottetown

 

February 28 and March 1, 2003 at the Jubilee Theatre (Harbourfront) in Summerside

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Written by: W.S. Gilbert (lyrics) and Arthur Sullivan (music)

Director: Terry Pratt

Music Director: Carl Mathis

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Stage Manager: Wallena Higgins

Choreographer: Julia Sauvé

Lead actor/singers:

Stephanie McCormick

Lisa Carmody

Claude Gavard

Andrew Mann

René Hurtubisse 

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The show had a cast and chorus of 40 persons, plus a pit orchestra of 20.

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It was the fifth Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera mounted by ACT — one of the most popular in the string of G&S hits which have been performed all over the world for more than a century. Typically there is a ridiculously funny plot, involving a mix-up of infants, spouses paired-up by a game of blind-man’s bluff, a pair of could-be kings with the potential of three queens, a topsy-turvy Mediterranean court where the royals serve the servants, an impoverished duke who incorporates himself and markets his social position for lucrative profit, a Grand Inquisitor who stole the Prince and delights in a little bit of gentle torture, a nursemaid-turned brigand who springs the surprise ending about who is really king.  Worked into this staging was the fun of spoofing Canadian and Island politics.

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The plot aside, the music is glorious: comic ditties, haunting love ballads, soaring choruses. The production also featured two exotic sets — the canals and bridges of Venice, and the lavish court of the island kingdom of Barataria … two remarkable sailing vessels gliding across the stage … a riot of bright colour in the costumes of gondoliers, peasant maidens and Spanish aristocrats … and four fantastic dance numbers.

  The show involved — cast, orchestra, crew and production — a total of 91 people!

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