Lavish show was a rare treat for Gilbert And Sullivan fans
A SCURRILOUS newspaper, royal scandal, financial impropriety and corruption; Utopia Limited could so easily be a tale of modern times, yet this comic operetta was written 120 years ago.
Nonetheless, director Chris Cann surrendered to the temptation of deftly inserting topical references to phone hacking and the Leveson Inquiry.
It is the largest production undertaken by New London Opera Group (NLOG) and represents a treat for Gilbert And Sullivan fans; the demands of staging Utopia Limited mean performances are rare.
As a result, the musical numbers are less familiar than their more popular operas, but NLOG so successfully engaged us that this didn't matter.
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The absurdity of King Paramount's desire to recreate his South Pacific island as a mirror image of all things British quickly ensured the audience was fully absorbed.
There was much to entertain us, Alaric Barrie and Jim Chadburn's portrayal of the king's unscrupulous wise men, Scaphio and Phantis, was pure pantomime casting.
Indeed, their dance routine during Let All Your Doubts Take Wing surely reminded many of the old music hall act, Wilson, Keppel and Betty.
There was a hilarious royal version of musical chairs, led by King Paramount, during Society Has Quite Forgotten and as the king; Philip Errington brought us more than a touch of Yul Brynner.
This is, of course, an opera and sopranos Bee Bradley and Charlotte Collier treated us to exquisite performances as Princess Zara and the governess Lady Sophy.
Utopia Limited was a colourful, elegant and lavish production that enhances NLOG's reputation and the reason why so many look forward to its annual visit to Louth.
Trevor Ekins
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