U of L Opera Workshop and Lethbridge Symphony present the Gondoliers this week

Print

The University of Lethbridge Opera Workshop and Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra plus special guests Vox Musical collaborate for this year’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera the Gondoliers.
The show runs Jan 31 and Feb. 1 at Southminster United Church.

Kevin Schuwer (Luiz) and Alexandra Morgan (Cassilda) rehearse for the Gondoliers. Photo By Richard Amery
“ It’s one of their funniest,” enthused assistant director Megan Wittig, who was part of  their first full scale collaboration of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in 2012, has been on stage with them before and backstage for several other productions.


“ It’s a full show with costumes and a big set,” Wittig enthused.


“ There’s eight leads in this production where there’s usually only four. But we have so many talented singers, so we’re happy to do this production this year,” Wittig said, noting there is a cast of close to 30 performers, most of whom are veterans of the annual collaborations.


“ And there’s a smaller orchestra, because Gilbert and Sullivan always wrote for a smaller orchestra,” she continued.

 “ The Gondoliers,”  which debuted  at the Savoy Theatre on Dec. 7, 1889, is the story of two brothers who are gondoliers, who learn they are about to inherit the  throne of  Barataria after the king dies, but they aren’t sure who is the legitimate heir, so they decide to rule together until they can find their childhood nurse Inez who can identify which one is the heir. But her son ends up being the true heir.

 


“So it all works out in the end and it is very funny,” Wittig said.


“It is a big production. There is a lot of sound and a lot to look at,” Wittig said, adding the cast received their scripts in April and have been rehearsing at the university since November.
“It is really wonderful,” she said.


The Gondoliers runs at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Southminster United Church.
 Tickets range from $25-$75.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
Share