2007 - The Gondoliers

Dates: Saturday 21st April - Saturday 28th April 2007

WLOS' The Gondoliers - Cast Announced

January 2007

Successful Auditions For WLOS Forthcoming Production Of The Gondoliers

Following Auditions for principal parts Wexford Light Opera Society are pleased to announce a fantastic front line for what promises to be a wonderful production of The Gondoliers in April.

The Duke of Plaza -Toro (a grandee of Spain) will be played by Pat Lawlor, Luiz (his attendant) will be played by Robert Vickers, who played the same part with the acclaimed Rathgar & Rathmines Musical Society recently. Owen Brady takes the role of Don Alhambra del Bolero (The Grand Inquisitor) while George Lawlor and Tony Carty take on the roles of Marco & Guiseppe Palmieri, respectively. The Duchess of Plaza-Toro will be played by Siobhan Fawsitt, Casilda (her daughter) will be played by Caroline Daly Jones with Bridget Nolan as Gianetta and Aisling Donnolly as Tessa (2 future wives of Marco and Guiseppe). Fiametta will be played by Laura Murphy whilst the part of Inez (the King's Foster-mother) will be played by Teresa Kinsella.

Chorus rehearsals are well under way. Fr. John O'Brien returns as Musical Director for this production as Fintan Cleary has stepped aside due to pressure of work. Eanna McKenna will return as Chorus Master as will Noel McDonagh as Director and we are delighted to welcome back Dex McGloughlin as Choreographer for this production.

The show will be staged in the Dun Mhuire Theatre from Saturday 21st to Saturday 28th April 2007.

Keep an eye on your local paper for more details or check www.wlos.ie

WLOS choose 'THE GONDOLIERS' for 2007

September 2006

Wexford Light Opera Society has chosen The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan as their production for 2007. The newly elected committee wasted no time in choosing a suitable Show to follow what was a very successful offering last by the Society – Jekyll & Hyde.

The Gondoliers, or, The King of Barataria, was the twelfth opera written together by Gilbert and Sullivan. Opening on December 7, 1889 at the Savoy Theatre, The Gondoliers ran for 554 performances, and was the last of the G&S operas that would achieve wide popularity. Its lilting score has, perhaps, the most sparkling and tuneful music of them all and calls, perhaps, for the most dancing.

The Gondoliers will be staged by WLOS in the Dun Mhuire Theatre from Saturday 21st to Saturday 28th April 2007

Two just-married Venetian gondoliers are informed by the Grand Inquisitor that one of them has just become the King of "Barataria", but only their foster mother, presently at large, knows which one. As Barataria needs a king to put down unrest in the country, they travel there to reign jointly, leaving their wives behind in Venice until the old lady can be interviewed.

It turns out that the king was wed in infancy to the beautiful daughter of the Spanish Duke of Plaza Toro, and so it seems he is an unintentional bigamist. Of course, the beautiful daughter is in love with a common servant! When the young Spaniard and the two Venetian wives all show up wanting to know which of them is queen, complications arise. No worries: The true identity of the king is revealed, and all is combed out spectacularly well by the end.

The Gondoliers was the eleventh in the series of comic operas, and opened at the Savoy on 7th December 1889. It was described as the 'second Mikado' and received more adulation in the press than possibly any of the other operas. The opening night was a glittering social affair.

Aims Nominations - 2007

'The Gondoliers' has been nominated in the AIMS Best Gilbert & Sullivan/pre 1935 show/Modern Opera category. Fr. John O'Brien has also been deservedly nominated for best Musical Director award.

Wishing all nominees the best of luck in Killarney!

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