Stage: The Mikado
A costumed concert performance featuring former members of the world famous D’Oyly Carte Opera Company
Music Theatre 2000 have announced a concert performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most popular operetta, The Mikado, featuring former principal singers from the world famous D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Their most senior performers, Barry Clark, Jill Pert and Bruce Graham, all appeared with the original company until its demise in 1982 and then again when the new company reformed in 1988.
Barry played all the tenor roles, Jill the contralto roles and Bruce the baritone roles. Fenton Gray, Joseph Shovelton, Yvonne Patrick, Sally Ann Shepherdson, Ian Belsey and Pauline Birchall have all appeared in major roles with the “new” D’Oyly Carte. Fenton Gray, who played Koko in The Mikado and Jack Point in The Yeomen Of The Guard, also directed several productions for the company and he, along with Jill Pert and Yvonne Patrick, also appeared in the BBC2 transmission of The Mikado and on the DVD.
Most of the cast also appear regularly with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and at the Buxton G&S Festival. Fenton, Barry, Joseph, Sally Ann and Pauline also appeared in the Regency Opera tour, conducted by Simon Gray, which starred Dame Hilda Brackett as Katisha! Appearing in the chorus on 24th March there will also be other singers who took part in that tour. All in all, it will be a wonderful reunion of old friends and colleagues as well as being a memorable performance for the audience and an absolute must for Gilbert & Sullivan fans.
There will be a chorus of over 80 singers made up from MT2000 regular singers and members of the Brighton & Hove’s Actually Gay Men’s Chorus supported by a full orchestra conducted by Simon Gray. The performance will include all the dialogue.
The Mikado, All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove, Sunday 24 March, 7.30pm, £17/£14, tickets available by phone on 0844 8700887 (booking fee applies) or online from www.brightontheatregroup.ticketsource.co.uk (booking fee applies). Supporting The Martlets Hospice.
www.musictheatre2000.com
