Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company blends law, politics, and fantasy in Iolanthe

The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company will perform Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri – regarded by many as Gilbert and Sullivan's finest and most perfect collaboration. Three performances will take place at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall on March 10, 11 and 12.

Iolanthe drops England's House of Peers into the middle of a Hans Christian Andersen-inspired forest enchanted by fairies and ruled by a no-nonsense Fairy Queen. Strephon, son of the beloved eponymous fairy Iolanthe, is sent into Parliament as a Fairy Member when the Lord Chancellor and his House of Peers spurn his affections for his love Phyllis.

“Iolanthe has the strongest blend of dialogue and music of any other collaboration between this formidable duo,” says director Shane Valenzi, returning for a third year with the Company.

Highlighted by the most difficult patter song in the canon, and calling for a top-notch featured male ensemble, Iolanthe has long been revered in the United Kingdom as on par with The Mikado as one of the best and most popular works of operetta ever produced by the Savoy. And as the chorus has an exceptionally prominent role, Valenzi explains that now is the perfect time to mount this show. “We've built a tradition of a supremely talented, active chorus over the last few years, and Iolanthe is the perfect vehicle for them to shine. I could not be more excited to see how the brilliant, professional-level performers that make up our chorus make this show their own.”

Frequent performer Aaron Hunt will take a turn as associate director this year, collaborating with Valenzi. Also returning for a third year is conductor Matthew Sheppard, Director of the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra. The talented cast includes some of the Company’s favorites from past productions as well as several outstanding newcomers. Nancy Levner will produce, aided by associate producers Trip Driscoll and Roger Huff.

Performances take place at Mandel Hall, 1131 East 57th Street, from March 10 through 12. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 general, $5 for students, $15 for groups and can be ordered online at ticketsweb.uchicago.edu, or by calling the Logan Center for the Arts box office at 773.702.ARTS. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at the Logan Center box office Tuesday through Saturday from noon through 6 p.m.

2017 marks the 33rd consecutive year the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company has partnered with the University of Chicago Department of Music for their annual production. The proceeds will benefit the Department of Music’s performance program, whose seventeen ensembles and programs present more than a hundred concerts each year.