THE D’Oyly Carte Opera Company will burst back on stage next month with its sensational and swashbuckling production The Pirates Of Penzance.
Marking a triumphant return after a 10-year absence the company will collaborate with Scottish Opera to bring the richly theatrical production to the Bristol Hippodrome.
The cast and chorus of 39 and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera will result in a vibrant, lavish, stylish and hilarious romp through one of the Gilbert and Sullivan’s finest scores.
The show simply glories in the excesses of the music, the story telling, the wit and the characters, while bringing the humour bang up to date with a Python-esque twinkle.
The Pirates Of Penzance was the duo’s second great hit, first performed on Broadway in 1879 and follows the joyfully hapless story of Frederic and his true love, Mabel, daughter of Major-General Stanley.
Having turned 21, Frederic should be contractually released from his apprenticeship to a band of pirates, but discovers his birthday is the February 29 – a leap year. Taking duty a little too literally, he concludes it will consequently take him another 63 years to turn 21 and only Mabel’s promise to wait sustains him.
The show features some of Gilbert’s wittiest lyrics, not least the famous song I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General.
And Sullivan brilliantly mixes opera with his catchy melodies and other composers, such as Verdi’s Il Trovatore, Come, Friends, Who Plough The Sea and You Triumph Now.
The show will be at the Hippodrome from June 18-22 at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on June 19 and 22.
Tickets, priced £15-47.50, are available from the box office on 08448 713012.
The Mercury has teamed up with Bristol Hippodrome to offer three lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show on June 19.
To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets all you have to do is answer the following question: What is the name of Frederic’s true love?
Send your answer, along with your name, address, email address and a daytime telephone number to: The Pirates of Penzance competition, Weston, Worle and Somerset Mercury, 32 Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1LW by 9am on May 31.
Usual Archant rules apply and the editor’s decision is final.
By entering this competition you are agreeing to be contacted by Archant.
Alternatively click on the link in the right hand corner to enter.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here