The comic works of Gilbert & Sullivan are the foundation on which American musical theater is built. Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri, their seventh opera, satirizes British politics, particularly the House of Lords. The story begins with the return of Iolanthe, a fairy who had been banished for marrying a mortal. Her son, Strephon, is a half-fairy shepherd who loves Phyllis, a ward of the Lord Chancellor. However, the entire House of Lords also has designs on her. When Strephon’s fairy lineage is revealed, the fairies use their magic to make him a powerful member of Parliament, leading to chaos and reforms that outrage the stodgy, self-important peers. Meanwhile, the Lord Chancellor wrestles with his own romantic feelings for Phyllis and a very tangled sense of duty. The opera gleefully mocks aristocratic privilege, bureaucracy, and the absurdities of government while blending witty dialogue with beautiful music. With its blend of fantasy, romance, and satire, Iolanthe remains one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most clever and tuneful works, delighting audiences with its magical world and pointed social commentary.
Hobby Center: Zilkha Theater is at 2368A Rice Blvd #402, Houston, TX.
Hobby Center: Zilkha Theater is at 2368A Rice Blvd #402, Houston, TX.
Videos
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Khalid & Lauv at 713 Music Hall
Khalid & Lauv at 713 Music Hall (6/18 - 6/18) | |
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Back to the Future The Musical
Theatre Under The Stars (3/31 - 4/5) | |
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NYE Gala, featuring Murder on the Orient Express
Theatre Southwest (12/31 - 12/31) | |
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Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical
MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston) (12/26 - 1/11) | |
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GRAND HORIZONS
1824 Spring Street (2/4 - 2/21) | |
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Modern Folk – Multicultural Roots
The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (1/30 - 1/31) | |
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Readers' Theatre
Theatre Southwest (1/18 - 1/18) | |
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