Iolanthe 2017

IOLANTHE
W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan
14th - 18th NOVEMBER 2017
STEWARTBY VILLAGE HALL - 7:30 Curtain
PROGRAMME - £1.50
https://www.facebook.com/StewartbyOperaticSociety
http://www.saods.org.uk

STEWARTBY AMATEUR OPERATIC
AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY
PRESIDENT
Lady Skeet
VICE-PRESIDENTS:
Mr Allan Thomas, Mrs Prue Gardiner
Affiliated
to N.O.D.A
Mr & Mrs K. Blane
Mr C.D.G. Burton
Mrs J. Caves
Mrs B. Corney
Mrs S. Hale
Mr J. Hartop
PATRONS OF THE SOCIETY
Mrs P. Ireland
Mrs H Kentsbeer
Mrs G. Lecoche
Mrs C.H. Moule
Mr and Mrs A.G. Parfitt
Mr and Mrs R.J. Rayner
Mr and Mrs S. Simmons
Rev. and Mrs M. Wells
Mrs S. Woods
Mrs B. Wright
Mr and Mrs J. Wright
Laura Adams
John Gribble
Mr F. W. Hall
Mrs J. Gilder
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
Hilary Hull
Pam Ireland
Hazel Kentsbeer
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Mr A. Hunter
Mr R. Hull
Pam Massey
Shirley Woods
Mrs A. Stearn
Mrs J. Swain
OFFICERS
Chairman.......................................................................................... John Epton
Deputy Chairman..............................................................................Colin Jones
Secretary....................................................................................... Hazel Daniels
Treasurer & Business Manager........................................................Mike Cocke
Subscribers Secretary.........................................................................Jenny Hall
COMMITTEE
Bex Badham
Shirley Hale
Bill Hall
Jenny Hall
Richard Hull
Pam Massey
Carol Urwin
The Society acknowledges, with grateful thanks, the financial support of
our President, Vice-Presidents and Patrons. Anyone who is interested in
becoming a Patron should contact our Secretary, Hazel Daniels,
Tel. 01908 616213.

Good evening Ladies, Gentlemen
and Children
Once again I have the pleasure of welcoming you
to our production of “Iolanthe”. It is nine years since
the society performed this operetta but it is as fresh
and new as ever and rehearsals have been hugely
enjoyable and even hilarious.
Iolanthe was the first new production at the Savoy
Theatre and caused a sensation with “the new
electric light” illuminating the fairies’ head-dresses
and wands.
Chairman’s Message
The simple idea of inter-twining a band of fairies
with the House of Lords is a Gilbertian stroke of
whimsical genius. Combine this with Sullivan and
a score which at once brings to mind Mendelssohn,
Mozart, the English countryside and Britannia
the Mighty and we have one of the very best G&S
operas. The overture is symphonically one of
Sullivan’s two greatest, the other being “Yeomen of
the Guard”.
I welcome Wendy Field as our director of
production and she is assisted by Carol Wallman
as choreographer. Our musical director is Alana
Thackray and our superb rehearsal pianists have
been Brian Caves and Pam Rogers.
May I also thank Hazel and John Daniels for the
brilliant set and all those who have helped with this
production, both front of house and backstage.
I wish you all a most enjoyable evening and hope to
see you again in 2018 for “To Reach For the Stars”
in April and “Ruddigore” in November.
John Epton - Chairman
If you would like to become a Patron of this Society please send your gift, however
small, to Hazel Daniels. “An acknowledgement will be sent”

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IOLANTHE
or
The Peer and the Peri
The first new production to be put on at the recently-opened Savoy
Theatre was Iolanthe, which had its first performance on 25th
November 1882.
Gilbert’s witty and scintillating ideas, with a fairy theme running
through a satirical plot, appealed very much to Sullivan whose music
flowed easily, while Richard D’Oyle Carte was happy because his
company was now firmly launched with operas which were a success
both in England and America.
The story tells of Iolanthe, a fairy who had been banished by her
Queen for marrying a mortal a quarter of a century before; her sisters
cannot understand why she has chosen to live at the bottom of a
stream and successfully entreat the Queen to summon Iolanthe and
forgive her. On her arrival, Iolanthe explains that she has done this
because she wanted to live near her son, Strephon, who now appears
to tell his mother and newly-discovered aunts that he is anxious
to marry Phyllis, a Ward of Chancery, but is prevented by the Lord
Chancellor; however, the Fairy Queen promises that if ever Strephon
is in need of her help, he has only to ask and she will give it.
Glossary
BANBURYS. Cakes of pastry, currants and spice, originally made at Banbury in Oxfordshire.
BARING. The banking house of Baring brothers, founded by Sir Francis Baring (1740 -1810).
BOMBAZINE. A twilled fabric of silk and wool which, when old, goes rusty-looking.
MARAVEDI. A Spanish copper coin of the 11th and 12th centuries, worth about one-sixth of a
penny.
MARRIAGE WITH DECEASED WIFE’S SISTER. A parliamentary bone of contention for over 50
years, not becoming law until 1907.
OVIDIUS NASO. Roman poet and politician, better known as Ovid, famous for many poems
about the love affairs of the Olympians.
PICKFORD. A famous firm of carriers, now nationwide.
ROTHSCHILD. The famous international banking house.
CAPTAIN SHAW. Eyre Massey Shaw (1830 -1908), Chief of the London Fire Brigade. He was
present at the first performance of “Iolanthe”, to the great delight of the audience.
SEVEN DIALS. A junction of streets between Drury Lane and Shaftesbury Avenue, formerly a
notorious slum.
POCKET BOROUGH. A safe parliamentary seat, being an old constituency where the electors
voted as directed by their leaders.
FRIDAY NIGHTS. In the House of Lords, the Peers do not now normally sit on a Friday at all. It is
thought that the “cherished rights” probably refer to the fact that they were able
to get away to their country homes early for the weekend.

Claire Moore (Phyllis)
Claire began singing with choral societies and opera
societies in Harrow and Aylesbury. This is Claire’s first
foray into Gilbert and Sullivan and she is delighted to be
playing Phyllis, her first principal role with SAODS.
Stephen Hoath (Strephon)
Stephen has performed many baritone roles with
SAODS but this is his first time playing Strephon. He
has recently performed at the International Gilbert &
Sullivan Festival, Harrogate where he played Giuseppe
in the ALGSS multi award winning Gondoliers.
John Epton (Lord Chancellor)
Over the years John has performed all the G&S operas
and taken many of the leading roles with SAODS and
other local societies. This is the fourth time John has
played the Chancellor, all under different Governments!
Linda Bowen (Iolanthe)
Linda is delighted to be playing the role of Iolanthe
again with SAODS. She has performed many of the
leading ladies in the G&S canon from a terrifying
Katisha to a luscious Lady Jane in last year’s Patience.
Colin Jones (Shadow Chancellor)
Having pottered in the production of Pinafore as Sir
Joseph Porter, and in Patience as the bumbling, bookbound
Bunthorne, Colin has left the lowly lords to shine
as the Shadow Chancellor and to accept, after all, that
alliteration is not his strong point.

MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I - Scene: An Arcadian Landscape
Opening Chorus of Fairies (Celia and Leila).....................Tripping hither, tripping thither
Invocation (Queen, Iolanthe, Celia, Leila and Chorus of Fairies)....Iolanthe, from thy dark exile
Solo (Strephon & Chorus of Fairies) ....................................... Good morrow, good mother
Solo (Queen & Chorus of Fairies) ..................................Fare thee well, attractive stranger
Solo (Phyllis & Strephon)..........................................................Good morrow, good lover
Duet (Phyllis & Strephon) .................................................................... None shall part us
Entrance & March of the Peers....................................... Loudly let the trumpet bray
Entrance of the Lord Chancellor & Shadow Chancellor.............................................
Song (Lord & Shadow Chancellors & Peers)........................The law is the true embodiment
Trio & Chorus of Peers (Phyllis, Lords Tolloller & Mountararat)................ My well-loved Lord
Recit (Phyllis)...................................................................................Nay, tempt me not
Chorus of Peers & Song (Lord Tolloller)...................................Spurn not the nobly born
Ensemble (Phyllis, Lords Tolloller & Mountararat, Strephon, Lord Chancellor & Chorus of Peers)........
..............................................................................................................My Lords, it may not be
Song (Lord Chancellor) .............................................................. When I went to the Bar
Finale (Phyllis, Iolanthe, Queen, Leila, Celia, Strephon, Lords Tolloller & Mountararat, Lord Chancellor &
Chorus of Fairies and Peers)....................................................When darkly looms the day
ACT II - Palace Yard Westminster
Song (Private Willis & Sentries)..................................When all night long a chap remains
Chorus of Fairies & Peers..................................Strephon’s a member of Parliament
Song (Lord Mountararat and Chorus)...........................When Britain really ruled the waves
Duet (Leila, Celia with Chorus of Fairies, Lords Tolloller & Mountararat).... In vain to us you plead
Song (Queen with Chorus of Fairies)............................................................ Oh, foolish fay
Quartet (Phyllis, Lords Tolloller & Mountararat & Private Willis)..................................................
.................................................................... Tho’ p’r’aps I may incur your blame
Recit & Song (Lord & Shadow Chancellors)............... Love unrequited robs me of my rest
Quartet (Lords Tolloller & Mountararat and Lord & Shadow Chancellors)......................................
.............................................................................. He who shies at such a prize
Duet (Phyllis & Strephon)....................................................If we’re weak enough to tarry
Recit & Ballad (Iolanthe).............................................My Lord, a suppliant at your feet
Recit (Iolanthe, Queen, Lord Chancellor & Fairies)........................................................ It may not be
Finale (Phyllis, Iolanthe, Queen, Leila, Celia, Lords Tolloller & Mountararat, Strephon, Lord Chancellor
and Chorus of Fairies & Peers............................................ Soon as we may, off and away

IOLAN
Or
The Peer and the Peri
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
WENDY FIELD
Composed by Arthur Sullivan
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The Lord Chancellor.................................................John Epton
The Shadow Chancellor.......................................... Colin Jones
Earl of Mountararat...................................................Peter Davis
Earl Tolloller ............................................................Charles Mills
Private Willis, of the Grenadier Guards............. Peter Stephens
Strephon, an Arcadian Shepherd........................ Stephen Hoath
Sentries
............. Mike Cocke, Colin Jones, Andrew Hodges
Queen of the Fairies...............................................Bex Badham
Iolanthe, a Fairy, Strephon’s Mother...................... Linda Bowen
}
Celia ............................................................. Carol Urwin
Leila Fairies...................................................... Margaret Snape
Fleta ............................................................Sandra Buck
Phyllis, an Arcadian Shepherdess & Ward in Chancery......Claire Moore
PLEASE, TURN OFF
NO PHOTOGRAPHY I

THE
Written by W. S. Gilbert
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
ALANA THACKRAY
CHORUS OF DUKES, MARQUISES,
EARLS, VISCOUNTS, BARONS,
BARONESSES, SENTRIES & FAIRIES
Mike Cocke, Hazel Daniels, Jan Faulkner, Wendy Field,
Mollie Foster, Shirley Hale, Jenny Hall, Richard Hardwick,
Andrew Hodges, Hilary Hull, Doreen Hunter,
Jenny Jackson, Juliet Jones, Margaret Magee,
Pam Massey, Peter Stephens, Carol Wallman, Becky Wright
ACT I
An Arcadian Landscape
Interval of 15 minutes between Acts
ACT II
Palace Yard, Westminster
YOUR PHONES AND
N THE AUDITORIUM

Charles Mills (Earl Tolloller)
Charles balances his day job as finance director of
Graeae Theatre Company with evenings spent on the
amateur stage and in chamber choirs. Two weeks ago
he was “King of Broadway” in The Producers and now
he is an Earl!
Carol Urwin (Celia)
Carol has played most of the lead soprano roles at
Stewartby several times over and is thoroughly enjoying
being a ‘dainty little fairy’. Over the last year, she has
discovered the joy of long distance running and has
completed 2 half and 1 full marathon.
Margaret Snape (Leila)
Margaret fell in love with G&S at an early age and has
sung most of the mezzo roles with local societies.
When not on stage she can be found directing or
choreographing, but her first love is treading the boards.
She is delighted to be a fairy of indeterminate age!
Peter Davis (Earl of Mountararat)
Peter has performed many roles with Stewartby over
the years. Apart from Stewartby and G&S he has
performed as Ben Rumson (Paint Your Wagon), Jerry
Reynolds (Friend or Foe), The King (the King and I) and
most recently Bartolo (the Marriage of Figaro).
Sandra Buck (Fleta)
Sandra joined Stewartby in 2005 and has since done
many G&S productions in the chorus. She has also
performed with Show Co, Bedford. Sandra decided this
time she would like to do a small speaking part and will
be playing Fleta, one of the fairies.

ORCHESTRA
1 st Violin Pam Davies, Larissa Felce
2 nd Violins Maggie Bullen, Naomi Morris
Viola Derek Davies
Cello Cate Thomas
Double Bass Jenny Brown
Flute Helen Mckay
Clarinet Susan Sims
Bassoon Tessa Shepherds
Oboe Janet Butlin
French Horn Kate Young
Trumpet Peter Halliday
Trombone John Lingings
Musical Director: ALANA THACKRAY
Bex Badham (Queen of the Fairies)
Bex studied music at Newcastle University where she
majored in classical voice. Bex has a lifelong passion for
musical theatre which has inevitably led to the world
of G&S. Recently Bex starred as the Fairy Queen in
Iolanthe and in Patience at the Harrogate G&S festival.
Peter Stephens (Private Willis)
Peter is enjoying being with SAODS again after he
played the role of the Solicitor in our 2016 production
of Patience. He may be generally admired, but not
as much as the Victorian founder of the London Fire
Brigade, the gallant Captain Shaw.

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Wednesday: 10am - 3pm
Thursday: 10am - 3pm
Friday:
10am - 3pm
Saturday: 10am - 3pm
Sunday:Private Function Hire

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION.............................................Wendy Field
MUSICAL DIRECTOR......................................................Alana Thackray
ASSISTANT PRODUCER.................................................. Carol Wallman
REHEARSAL PIANISTS.................................. Brian Caves, Pam Rogers
ORCHESTRAL SCORES..................................................... D’Oyly Carte
STAGE MANAGER..........................................................Robin Lawrence
STAGE CREW.................................................. John Daniels,Alan Wright
SCENIC ARTISTS & CONSTRUCTION.......Hazel Daniels, John Daniels
LIGHTING DESIGN & OPERATION...................................... Richard Hull
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT...................................................... Bubbles Hire
HOUSE MANAGERS.............................................Friends of the Society
WARDROBE......................................................................Jenny Jackson
COSTUMES........... Berenice Stage Costume Hire, Harlequin Costumes
BOX OFFICE............................................................Bill Hall, Mike Cocke
PUBLICITY & CAST PHOTOGRAPHS..................................Colin Jones
PROGRAMMES & USHERS..................................Friends of the Society
PROPERTIES........................................................................... Hilary Hull
S.A.O.D.S Web Site................................................................Colin Jones
PROGRAMME.............................................. John Epton, Stephen Hoath

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OBITUARY
It is with sadness we mourn the death of Peter Magee. He was
a loyal member of Stewartby for 27 years and played many
leading baritone roles. These included Samuel, Dr. Daley, Wilfred,
Antonio, The Mikado, Captain Corcoran, Earl of Mountararat, the
Usher and the 2nd Yeoman. He also sang in the chorus and took
roles in our Spring Concerts.
Peter will be sadly missed by all who knew him and we extend our
heartfelt sympathy to Margaret and family.
“Is life a boon?
If so, it must befall that Death,
when e’er he call, must call too soon”

OUR PAST PRODUCTIONS
The Pirates of Penzance 1951, 1958, 1969, 1982, 1991, 2001, 2010
HMS Pinafore 1952, 1962, 1971, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2006, 2015
Patience 1953, 1959, 1974, 1984, 1997, 2007, 2016
The Gondoliers 1954, 1963, 1976, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2012
Iolanthe 1956, 1967, 1975, 1986, 1998, 2008
The Mikado 1957, 1966, 1978, 1987, 1995, 2004, 2013
The Sorcerer 1960, 1977, 1992, 2005, 2014
Ruddigore 1961, 1970, 1979, 1989, 2000, 2009
Trial by Jury 1962, 1975, 1988, 2001
Yeomen of the Guard 1964, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2002, 2011
Princess Ida 1965, 1972, 1981, 1990, 1999
Utopia Ltd 1968
Cox and Box 1977, 2006
The Zoo 1996
S . A . O . D . S P r o u d l y P r e s e n t
To
Reach
For the
Stars
Bernstein
Tim Rice
Loewe
Burton Lane
Lloyd Webber
a Spring Concert
John Barry
Lerner
Sondheim
Bricusse
27th & 28th April, 2018
20th-24th November 2018

THE SOCIETY EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE THANKS TO
Everyone who has made this production possible including,
Stewartby United Church. St John Ambulance.
Stewartby Village Hall: Bar Staff.
Bouquets by Growswell of Clophill. Printers: Fidelity of Wilstead.
Publicity: Bex Badham.
Refreshments: Jenny Hall and Friends of the Society.
Raffle: Carol Urwin & Becky Wright.
Pam Massey and Richard Hull who have ‘refreshed us’
on rehearsal evenings.
The firms who have advertised in the programme and we respectfully
call your attention to their announcements.
TO YOU for your attendance and support.
We wish you all a pleasant and enjoyable evening.
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CAST PHOTOGRAPH 2017
NEW MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

P u t t e r i d g e B u r y
GILBERT & SULLIVAN SOCIETY
The
Affiliated to the
National Operatic and
Dramatic Association
Gondoliers
21 st - 24 th March 2018
The Queen Mother Theatre
Walsworth Road, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9SP
Box Office (from January): www.qmt.org.uk
by W S Gilbert and
Sir Arthur Sullivan
contact PBGS on info@pbgs.org
visit our website www.pbgs.org