Did you know there's a company in town entirely dedicated to the works of music-comedy geniuses
Gilbert and Sullivan? Neither did I, until last year about this time, when I "discovered" the 30-year-old
Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company through their marvelous production of
H.M.S. Pinafore. They followed that up last year with the one-act
Trial by Jury at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, where it was
one of the top-selling shows. While they may be new to me, they obviously have a very loyal audience, and deservedly so. If you're among that audience, you don't need me to tell you what a wonderful job they do. If you're not, and you're a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan's particular brand of witty, clever, rhythmic comic opera, you might want to check out their latest production. This year they're presenting the lesser known (to me anyway)
Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri. And it is, once again, a delightful production of a very funny farce/fantasy/ political satire, beautifully performed by a cast of over 40 and a backstage orchestra nearly as large. GSVLOC fills a unique and specific niche in our rich Twin Cities theater community, one that I'm delighted to have "discovered."
