The Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Society presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s musical comedy “Iolanthe, or the Peer and the Peri,” at 8 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, in Delaware Valley University’s Life Sciences Theater, 700 E. Butler Ave., Doylestown.
The show’s cast of top local singers is accompanied by the Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Orchestra, and the Platinum Sponsors for the show are William Penn Bank and Fred Beans Automotive Group.
The theater group celebrates its 15th anniversary with this “fairy tale” musical, where the “Peers” are members of Parliament’s House of Lords, and the “Peri” (a Persian word for “fairy”) is Iolanthe and her many sister fairies.
In this production, Iolanthe and the free-spirited woodland sprites disrupt the staid members of 19th century Parliament, leaving comedic heartache and havoc in their wake — all sung by an outstanding cast, and set to Sullivan’s resplendent music played by a 35-piece live orchestra. The show’s colorful fantasy combines with ever-delightful patter songs and ballads from the G&S canon, such as “The Nightmare Song,” “None Shall Part Us” and “When Britain Really Ruled the Waves,” making it fun for the whole family.
“Iolanthe” is directed by David Swartz of Ambler, Music Director is Lee F. Milhous of New Britain, Chorusmaster is Bob Binkley of New Britain, and Producers are Bill Buckman and Ed Connolly, both of Doylestown. Technical Director is Dave Cassel of Perkasie, Jesse Roy of Doylestown is stage manager, and Joy Woffindin of Lambertville is choreographer. The sets are designed and painted by Henry Heymann of Doylestown, a veteran of decades of professional theater productions in Santa Fe, New York City and Pittsburgh.
The cast of “Iolanthe” features Michael Schiumo of Horsham as The Lord Chancellor; Kira Scharf as Iolanthe and Timothy Faulkner as Lord Tolloller, both of Ewing, N.J.; Jason Adamo of Morrisville as Lord Mountararat; Theresa Swartz of Ambler as Queen of the Fairies; Abby Capitolo as Phyllis and Chris Capitolo as Strephon, both of Abington; Michael Dutka of Kintnersville as Private Willis; Rachel Romak of North Wales as Celia; Lily Kull of Ardmore as Leila; and Joy Woffindin as Fleta.
The cast also features a chorus of fairies and peers, earls, lords and barons featuring Deborah Edwards and Raighne Kirk of North Wales; Dennis Klöppel and Kristen Shields of Doylestown; Joseph Gentile and Ricardo J. Pimentel of Bedminster; Valerie Sharper of Warminster; Christina Margot of Buckingham; Ellie Halstrick of Newtown; Jordan Schott and Rob Schott, Jr. of Abington; Eli Rosen of Melrose Park; Amleto Pucci of Erwinna; Diana Lefevre of Horsham; John Rothrock of New Britain; Ruth Ison of Montgomeryville; Jen Pfender of Feasterville; Emily Kwak of Princeton; John Klinges of Malvern; and Rachel Kull of Gladwyne.
Tickets at the door are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and students, and discounted prices are available by going to the Bucks G&S website. To park at the DVU Life Sciences Building turn from East Butler Avenue onto New Britain Road and turn right onto Admissions Drive, then right into Parking Lot C. Tickets and information is at BucksGilbertAndSullivan.org or call 215-262-5550.
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