Independent Arts News Reporting Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Iolanthe” Performing in Doylestown
Reported on Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Pictured Above: Shoppers exploring McConkey’s Market Photo Credit: Contributed.
Newsroom Post: DOYLESTOWN, PA
Doylestown, PA – The Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Society presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s musical comedy “Iolanthe, or the Peer and the Peri,” on Friday June 21 at 8:00 PM, Saturday June 22 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sunday June 23 at 2:00 PM, in Delaware Valley University’s Life Sciences Theater, 700 East Butler Avenue, Doylestown. The show’s cast of top local singers is accompanied by the Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Orchestra, and the Platinum Sponsors for the show are William Penn Bank and Fred Beans Automotive Group.
The theater group celebrates its 15th anniversary with this ‘fairy tale’ musical, where the ‘Peers’ are members of Parliament’s House of Lords, and the ‘Peri’ (a Persian word for ‘fairy’) is Iolanthe and her many sister fairies. In this production, Iolanthe and the free-spirited woodland sprites disrupt the staid members of 19th century Parliament, leaving comedic heartache and havoc in their wake—all sung by an outstanding cast, and set to Sullivan’s resplendent music played by a 35-piece live orchestra. The show’s colorful fantasy combines with ever-delightful patter songs and ballads from the G&S canon, such as “The Nightmare Song,” “None Shall Part Us” and “When Britain Really Ruled the Waves,” making it fun for the whole family.
“Iolanthe” is directed by David Swartz of Ambler, Music Director is Lee F. Milhous of New Britain, Chorusmaster is Bob Binkley of New Britain, and Bill Buckman and Ed Connolly of Doylestown are Producers. Technical Director is Dave Cassel of Perkasie, Jesse Roy of Doylestown is Stage Manager, and Joy Woffindin of Lambertville is Choreographer. The sets are designed and painted by Henry Heymann of Doylestown, a veteran of decades of professional theater productions in Santa Fe, New York City and Pittsburgh.
Pictured Above: Mike Schiumo, as the stodgy Lord Chancellor, rebuffs the pleas of Phyllis and Strephon, played by Abby and Chris Capitolo, in the Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s musical comedy “Iolanthe”, performing June 21, 22 and 23 with full orchestra at Delaware Valley University’s Life Sciences theater. Photo Credit: Contributed.
The cast of “Iolanthe” features Michael Schiumo of Horsham as The Lord Chancellor; Kira Scharf as Iolanthe and Timothy Faulkner as Lord Tolloller, both of Ewing, NJ; Jason Adamo of Morrisville as Lord Mountararat; Theresa Swartz of Ambler as Queen of the Fairies; Abby Capitolo as Phyllis and Chris Capitolo as Strephon, both of Abington; Michael Dutka of Kintnersville as Private Willis; Rachel Romak of North Wales as Celia; Lily Kull of Ardmore as Leila; Joy Woffindin as Fleta; and a chorus of fairies and peers, earls, lords and barons featuring Deborah Edwards and Raighne Kirk of North Wales; Dennis Klöppel and Kristen Shields of Doylestown; Joseph Gentile and Ricardo J. Pimentel of Bedminster; Valerie Sharper of Warminster; Christina Margot of Buckingham; Ellie Halstrick of Newtown; Amleto Pucci of Erwinna; John Rothrock of New Britain; Ruth Ison of Montgomeryville; Jen Pfender of Feasterville; Emily Kwak of Princeton; John Klinges of Malvern; and Rachel Kull of Gladwyne.
Tickets at the door are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and students, and discounted prices are available by going to the Bucks G&S website. To park at the DVU Life Sciences Building turn from East Butler Avenue onto New Britain Road and turn right onto Admissions Drive, then right into Parking Lot C. Tickets and further information is at BucksGilbertAndSullivan.org or call 215-262-5550.
