This weekend, the Brown University Gilbert and Sullivan Society performs "Iolanthe - or: The Peer and the Peri." The 1882 operetta tells the story of the fairy Iolanthe and her half-fairy son, Strephon, who with the help of the fairy community enters the British House of Peers. "Iolanthe" is the society's second full production since it was formed in Fall 2004.
As a political satire, much of the play centers on the incompetence of the 19th-century British government, and the references may not be clear to modern American audiences. One of the play's strengths, as with most Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, is the music, even in this lesser-known work.
An audience unfamiliar with opera might find "Iolanthe" more accessible than most operas. However, it will still not appeal to everyone. It has a strong sentimental streak, and the stuffy classicalness of Gilbert and Sullivan is offset somewhat by the offbeat production. But at over two hours, there is quite a lot of musical theater, which will surely be welcomed by fans.
One of the play's strongest assets is its large and powerful orchestra, conducted by Samuel Baltimore '05. The musicians brought a subtlety and sense of fluidity to a score that could easily become overly baroque and choppy. Though occasionally overpowering the actors, the orchestra carried the production.
The performances by the 24 cast members were uneven. Most of the performers possessed impressive singing voices, but many seem to have trouble transferring their singing into theatrical performances. Volume posed the biggest problem for most of the performers - without amplification, many voices became unintelligible.
The principal actors were very strong. Claire Coiro '06, in particular, grabs attention in her performance as the Fairy Queen. She brought a dark and almost intimidating air to her role, singing with frightening forcefulness. Michael Ennis '08 was also impressive as Strephon, singing with a voice that rose above the orchestra in a way others did not. Michelle Menard '06 displayed an impressive operatic voice as the love interest, Phyllis.
The production highlighted the play's lighthearted nature with offbeat touches - Strephon illustrated his job as a shepard by carrying a stuffed sheep. One fairy wore a tie-dyed shirt, and another was dressed as a pirate. Power Point presentations projected behind the actors occasionally provided recaps of the plot, in addition to backdrops.
The limitations of List 120 did hinder the production. Actors were forced to enter and exit the stage by running up and down the aisle. More troubling, the room's acoustics were clearly not meant for musical productions.
This production of "Iolanthe" presents a mostly faithful production of Gilbert and Sullivan's lighthearted comedy. While some performances were drowned out by the orchestra, others successfully played off of the strong musicianship and created some impressive moments.
"Iolanthe" opens tonight in List 120 at 8 p.m. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. A gag version of the show will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday - a common event in Gilbert and Sullivan productions. The society's Web site warns that the gag show may not be suitable for children. Admission is free.
