Review: Iolanthe at Wilton's Music Hall

Sasha Regan's all-male Iolanthe is now running at Wilton's Music Hall and has gained a good review from Michael Coveney of The Independant:

'...director Sasha Regan and her boys are doing something just as gloriously fresh and inventive as Matthew Bourne did with Swan Lake, or Richard Jones with Annie Get Your Gun at the Young Vic.

And it's not necessarily radical, in a "conceptual" or vindictive manner. Above all, it's not camp or knowing. Sentiment is pure and humour affectionate, which takes some doing with the slightly arch nature of the story, in which a stage full of fairies and peers squabble over the Victorian romance between a chap, Strephon, who is only a fairy "down to the waist" and a shepherdess who is a ward of Chancery. An all-male chorus of fairies are genuinely charming and funny in their improvised costumes of corsets, vests, cami-knickers and wings of bunting and silk strips.'

Iolanthe runs until the 7 May and you will find more about it here.

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Iolanthe with a difference and Blue Plaque for D'Oyly Carte

Wilton's Theatre

From a press release, with thanks to Deborah and Richard Dean:

All-Male Iolanthe To Open At Wilton’s Music Hall For A Limited Season

Opening 1 April to 7 May 2011:

Sasha Regan’s critically acclaimed all-male IOLANTHE will open at Wilton’s Music Hall on Friday 1 April, following previews from 30 March, for a limited season, ending 7 May. Originally staged at the Union Theatre towards the end of last year, this is the second Union Theatre production to transfer to Wilton’s, following the success of Pirates of Penzance last year, which won the Best Off-West End Production in the Whatsonstage Awards 2010.

Sasha Regan’s production, with design by Stewart Charlesworth, has been set in a public boys’ school. Choreography is by Mark Smith, director and choreographer of new dance company, Deaf Men Dancing, with musical supervision by Michael England and musical direction by Chris Mundy.

The amazing Wilton's Theatre (above) looks worth a visit just for itself!

Performances Tuesday-Saturday 7.30pm, Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm
Tickets £23 (£15 previews; £18 concessions; £60 family ticket)
Place Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, off Ensign Street, London E1 8JB
Box Office 020 7702 2789

Full details on the West End Theatre Website and Wilton's Theatre.

And here is a review of Sasha Regan's 2010 award-winning Pirates of Penzance.

D'Oyly Carte awarded a Blue Plaque

Also with thanks to Richard Dean:

In case you missed December's news, D'Oyly Carte was finally awarded a Blue Plaque on 14th December. It was unveiled by director Mike Leigh at his home on Dartmouth Road, Kentish Town, where he lived from 1860-1870:

Dr Susan Skedd, English Heritage's Blue Plaques Historian said: "Carte was unrivalled in his day as a theatrical manager and will be the first opera impresario to be honoured with a blue plaque."

Sounds long overdue!

Full details on The Telegraph Website.

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