March 2005:: Gilbert & Sullivan's witty political satire, IOLANTHE

"It's love that makes the world go 'round!"

Iolanthe, a fairy, defies the fairy law and marries a mortal. The customary death sentence is commuted to life-long banishment, on condition that Iolanthe immediately leave her husband. She chooses to live at the bottom of a stream so that she can be hear her half-mortal son, Strephon, an Arcadian shepherd. Strephon is in engaged to Phyllis, a ward of the Lord Chancellor, who is elderly but very susceptible and would like to marry her himself. Phyllis oversees Strephon with Iolanthe and is immediately jealous of the beautiful young girl, not believing that Iolanthe is his mother! She breaks off the engagement to Strephon and agrees to accept proposals of marriage from two peers of the realm (both rich and very plain) whom she had previously rejected. Strephon calls for help on the Fairy Queen, who answers his call and decides to send him into Parliament, where he will lead both parties and upset all the time-honoured prerogatives of the peers with his fairy powers.

In Westminster, a sentry on duty ruminates on the political system. He is interrupted by the arrival of the band of fairies, who delight in Strephon's parliamentary success, much to the chagrin of the peers. Phyllis is now engaged to two noblemen at once, but is undecided as to which one to marry. The Lord Chancellor finally resolves to seek her hand, whereupon Iolanthe proceeds to violate the terms of her banishment and reveal herself to him as his long-lost wife, thus incurring death. She is saved, however, when the Fairy Queen discovers that all the fairies have now secretly married peers -- she cannot slaughter the entire company! The Lord Chancellor proposes an amendment to the fairy law, whereby everything is resolved, and all become immortals.

Please note that the entire libretto of Iolanthe may be downloaded by clicking here.

Stage direction by Robert Binder
Musical direction by Paul Salter