Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe”
Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe”
Iolanthe is very much one of "The Big Four", as regards Gilbert and Sullivan's famous light operettas. It combines great tunes with an intricate storyline, half a fairy, lots of full fairies, a blushing Ward of Court, a susceptible Lord Chancellor and seemingly most of the House of Lords - plus a rather chivalrous guardsman. Inevitably, they all get their respective lives into a frightful tangle! Iolanthe's words and music are so strong that they are often performed "in concert" and that is what a party of us is going to see this July, performed by the highly-regarded Buckingham Choral Society, in Buckingham Parish Church. A leading light of the Society is our own Court Assistant Miles Hedges, who a number of us saw in an outstanding performance of The Mikado in the same location, a few years ago. The concert starts at 7.30pm, so we are going to meet for a "theatre supper" beforehand at 5.45pm, at the well-regarded Prego (a good, family-run Italian restaurant), which is just a short walk from the church. Tickets cost £70, to include the meal, (reasonable!) drinks, and tickets to the concert. There are only ten places, so early booking is advisable.