The Gondoliers (1982) (TV)

Director:

Dave Heather

Writer:

William S. Gilbert (libretto)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Marco and Giuseppe marry their sweethearts Gianetta and Tessa, but neither couple is allowed to leave for their honeymoon...

Plot Keywords:

Gilbert And Sullivan | Operetta | Comic Opera

Cast

Eric Shilling	...	The Duke of Plaza Toro
Anne Collins	...	Duchess of Plaza Toro
Francis Egerton	...	Marco Palmieri
Tom McDonnell	...	Giuseppe Palmieri
Fiona Kimm	...	Tessa
Nan Christie	...	Gianetta
Keith Michell	...	Don Alhambra del Bolero
Sandra Dugdale	...	Casilda
Christopher Booth-Jones	...	Luiz
Peter Savidge	...	Antonio / Annibale
Alan Watt	...	Giorgio
Meriel Dickinson	...	Inez
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lydia Carter	...	Fiametta
Aileen Davis	...	Guilia
Mark Dublin	...	Francesco
Anne Nichols	...	Vittoria

Directed by
Dave Heather

Writing credits
William S. Gilbert		(libretto)

Produced by
Judith de Paul	....	producer
Edward Simons	....	executive producer
George Walker	....	executive producer

Costume Design by
Jenny Beavan

Music Department
Alexander Faris	....	conductor
Arthur Sullivan	....	music by

Other crew
Peter Wood	....	directed for the stage by

Distributors

• AcornMedia (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:E

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Movie Connections:

Version of The Gondoliers (2004) (V)

Flawed, but still one of the better productions of a hit-and-miss series

As I said in the review title, I find the D'Oyly Carte Gilbert and Sullivan productions hit and miss. There have been some good productions like Iolanthe, Cox and Box and Princess Ida, but also some disappointments such as HMS Pinafore(the worst of the series), Pirates of Penzanze and Yeomen. Their production of The Gondoliers was one of the better ones though for me, only let down by the efficiently sung but too straight-forward performance of the Duke by Eric Shilling(I never really got the sense that the Duke was one of G&S's most comic characters) and some flagging sound in numbers like In Enterprise of Marital Kind. However, the video directing is better than in Penzanze for example, actually not dulling the handsome production values too much. The choreography is mostly sprightly and energetic especially in the Act 2 Gavotte, the dialogue and lyric witty(a couple of minor cuts but no really embarrassing additions or updates) and the orchestral playing, chorus singing and conducting outstanding. I was impressed by the principals in general. Sandra Dugdale doesn't have that much to do as Casilda, but really makes the most of O Rapture! When Alone Together. Keith Michell is different than the usual "menacing monster/charming man caught up in an unpleasant profession" Alhambra, more soft-spoken and quietly condescending, but this approach did work, and while starting off stiff the Giuseppe of Tom McDonnell sounds beautiful and is much more relaxed by Rising Early in the Morning. But my favourite performance was that of Francis Egerton as Marco, who is so quirky and full of life in his presence. In a nutshell, a very good Gondoliers production and one of the better productions of the series. 8/10 Bethany Cox