MEMBERS of Abingdon Operatic Society are preparing to celebrate their 100th production later this month.

For their milestone show, they will be performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operetta The Gondoliers at The Amey Theatre, Abingdon School. And the society’s members are hoping for sell-out audiences for each of the show’s six nights from Monday, October 28, to Saturday, November 2, at 7.30pm.

Looking forward to the production, society chairman John Nye said: “In 55 years the society has been encouraged by loyal and enthusiastic local audiences, enjoyed the talent of Abingdon and the surrounding area, and has been supported by local businesses, the town and Vale councils.

“It has truly been Abingdon’s society, made up of Abingdon people, performing for Abingdon people and supported by Abingdon people. But, at the same time, it has brought credit to the town, with audience members travelling from all over the country and beyond to enjoy its shows, attracted by its reputation.”

Mr Nye said: “Young and old have graced its stage, young and old have been entertained. “The next 100 shows will be just as good as the last 100.”

The Gondoliers, or The King of Barataria, is a Savoy Opera and was the twelfth comic opera collaboration of 14 between librettist W S Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan.

The show premiered at the Savoy Theatre, London, in December 1889, running for 554 performances until June 1891, making it at the time the fifth longest-running piece of musical theatre in history.

With the many twists and turns in plot you would expect of Gilbert and Sullivan, the story is set in Venice and the kingdom of Barataria and includes numbers such as List and Learn, Bridegroom and Bride, Dance a Cachucha, When a Merry Maiden Marries and Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes.

The old King of Barataria has died. However, his heir was abducted as a baby and brought to Venice where he was raised incognito by gondolier Baptisto Palmieri along with his own son of a similar age. But, as a drunkard, he forgot which was his son and which was the prince.

Now everyone awaits the arrival of the prince’s nurse from 20 years earlier, the only person who can tell which of gondoliers Marco or Giuseppe Palmieri is the new king.

But the situation is further complicated with the arrival of Casilda, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro, who tell her that she was betrothed as an infant to the heir and is now the new Queen of Barataria. But who is her husband?

The society has welcomed back an old friend Andrew Walter as the show’s director, alongside regular dance team member Jane Digby/Birkby as choreographer and Stephen Pascoe making his debut as a musical director.

Iain Launchbury and Duncan Blagrove play the ‘brothers’ Marco and Giuseppe, while Verity Thomas takes the role of Casilda. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess, are played by Kevin Pope and Lorna Stevenson, with Josh Kerr as their attendant, Luiz, and John Wilkes playing Don Alhambra.

The remainder of the cast is: Gianetta (Sarah Forrest); Antonio (Stephen Webb); Tessa (Jenna Elliott); Vittoria (Lucy Bent); Giulia (Jen Woodford); Fiametta (Cate Franklin); Francesco (Jon Ridley); Giorgio (Rob Rees) and Annibale (Alastair Ballard-Martin).

  • Tickets for the show are £8.50 to £15. You can book online at www.abingdonoperatic.co.uk (a £1 booking fee applies per ticket) or buy unreserved balcony seats from the Abingdon branch of the Newbury Building Society.

A ten per cent discount applies to parties of ten or more and 15 per cent to those of 20-plus.

For general inquiries or information about tickets, call the ticket inquiry line on 01235 834383.