The Gondoliers is, like nearly all G&Ss, is a hilarious, yet touching tale of mixed-up romances. It's the same basic storyline of boy and girl in love, boy and girl can't be together, everything works out and happily ever after. Nevertheless, they're all incredibly different and they're all great.
In this production, like other Opera Australia G&Gs, the story is treated respectfully, yet they put in a few little modern references, like "Which bank?" The only downside to this is that the non-Austalian audience probably wouldn't understand some of these.
All the actors are wonderful in their respective characters, but I feel that I must mention Olson as The Grand Inquisitor. He plays it with style, and he's got to be the funniest one I've ever come across.
The entire ensemble, also worked really well together, one memorable scene is the "Dance a Cachucha," which, I think all who have seen it will agree, is a highlight of the show.
This isn't a G&S I'd recommend for completely theater-illiterate people, some love of musicals/operas would be needed to really enjoy this, as opposed to, say, The Pirates of Penzance. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic production, and if you're going to get a version of the Gondoliers, get this one.
In this production, like other Opera Australia G&Gs, the story is treated respectfully, yet they put in a few little modern references, like "Which bank?" The only downside to this is that the non-Austalian audience probably wouldn't understand some of these.
All the actors are wonderful in their respective characters, but I feel that I must mention Olson as The Grand Inquisitor. He plays it with style, and he's got to be the funniest one I've ever come across.
The entire ensemble, also worked really well together, one memorable scene is the "Dance a Cachucha," which, I think all who have seen it will agree, is a highlight of the show.
This isn't a G&S I'd recommend for completely theater-illiterate people, some love of musicals/operas would be needed to really enjoy this, as opposed to, say, The Pirates of Penzance. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic production, and if you're going to get a version of the Gondoliers, get this one.