Theater at Monmouth Stages Gilbert & Sullivan's THE SORCERER, Beginning Tonight

Theater at Monmouth's 45th season continues with the opening of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, The Sorcerer tonight, September 18 at 7:30 p.m. Bursting with wit, charm, and fantasy, The Sorcerer blends social satire with lighthearted comedy making it a "neglected gem" of the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire.

What happens when a magically brewed cup o'tea intoxicates unsuspecting residents of an entire community? Alexis, a young man obsessed with the idea of love leveling all social distinctions, engages J. W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers, to find out. When the potion causes everyone in the village to fall in love with the first person they see-the results are mystical mayhem.

The Sorcerer showcases the talents of community members and actors from away, including Mark S. Cartier as J.W. Wells; David Handley as Sir Marmaduke; Jamie Beth Weist as Aline Sangazure; Ben Mulgrew as Alexis Pointdexter; Rebecca Beck as Lady Sangazure, Melissa Bills as Constance Partlet, and Ryan Simpson as Dr. Daly (the Vicar). Choreography by Adam P. Blais, sets by Rew Tippin, costumes by Michelle Handley, and lights by Jim Alexander.

Cumston Hall was the summer home of the American Savoyards from 1953 to 1960 presenting the works of Gilbert & Sullivan in traditional D'Oyly Carte style for ten-weeks each summer. For more than a decade[T1] , Theater at Monmouth has carried on this tradition presenting the works of Gilbert & Sullivan in both modernized and traditional productions.

The third operatic collaboration between W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan, The Sorcerer was a considered a success, running for 178 performances after opening in 1877 at the Opera Comique in London. Based on Gilbert's 1876 story The Elixir of Love, it was Gilbert & Sullivan's first opera to use all the major character types and typical range of songs that would appear in their later collaborations including such as comic duets, a patter song, a tenor and soprano love duet, and others. The success of the opera encouraged Gilbert & Sullivan to write their next opera, H.M.S. Pinafore. The Sorcerer is part of a three-year commitment to produce Gilbert & Sullivan. In 2014 TAM will present Ruddigore, or the Witches' Curse.

Performance Calendar: PREVIEW 9/18 at 7:30 p.m.; OPENING 9/19 at 7:30 p.m.; additional performance dates 9/20, 9/25, 9/26, 9/27 at 7:30 p.m.; 9/20, 9/21, 9/27, 9/28 at 1:00 p.m.; Ticket prices are $10-$30. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For calendar and reservations, contact the TAM Box Office at 207.933.9999 or visit www.theateratmonmouth.org.

Theater at Monmouth, founded in 1970, was named the Shakespearean Theater of Maine by the State Legislature in 1975. Thetheatre's mission is to present innovative approaches to Shakespeare and other classic plays through professional productions thatenrich the lives of people throughout Maine. Since its founding, TAM has produced expertly crafted, engaging productions in itsthree-month Summer Repertory Season entertaining audiences from 36 states and through Education Tours annually reachingmore than 15,000 students statewide.