By W.S Gilbert & Sullivan

Synopsis

Act I

Act I opens with the fairies dancing and singing. But since Iolanthe was banished by the Fairy Queen for marrying a mortal 25 years previously it’s not been much fun. They appeal to the Fairy Queen, who having a great fondness for Iolanthe herself, welcomes her back with forgiveness. Iolanthe announces that she has a son Strephon, an actor, who is half a fairy and in love with Phyllis, Diary Secretary and a Ward in Chancery. Strephon appears and declares that he will marry Phyllis today even without the Lord Chancellor’s consent.

Phyllis then arrives, expresses her concern at marrying without consent but Strephon persuades her that they could not possibly wait.

The Lords enter with the Lord Chancellor, all captivated by Phyllis, who is sent for and on arrival, they all declare their love for her. She painfully refuses them, saying that her heart is given to someone else. They demand to know who, when Strephon arrives to claim her hand. The Lord Chancellor is furious and refuses permission to marry.

Strephon seeks advice from his mother, who due to her fairyhood looks considerably younger in age. The Lords persuade Phyllis that he is philandering so that she rejects him, accepting proposals from the two senior Lords, Tolloller and Mountarart. Strephon appeals for help from the Fairy Queen, who spectacularly comes to his aid, announcing that she will take revenge via making him an MP!

Act II

The peers, upset about Strephon's success in Parliament, appeal for a return to normality. The fairies, having fallen in love with the Peers, would like to oblige but it is too late to stop Strephon. The Queen, shocked by the fairies' feminine weakness, acknowledges the effect of mortal men on her too, but asserts that she remains strong.   Tolloller and Mountararat discovering that if either marries Phyllis, then by family tradition, they must duel to the death, renounce her in the name of friendship. Meanwhile, the Lord Chancellor has had a sleepless night, eventually deciding to marry Phyllis himself!

Strephon confesses all to Phyllis about his fairyhood. They decide to marry without delay, persuading Iolanthe to appeal to the Lord Chancellor on their behalf. She does so, revealing that she is his wife. Thus, she again incurs the death penalty. Meanwhile, as the other fairies have married the other peers, they all should die too. Finally, the Lord Chancellor contrives a solution to great merriment with the Fairy Queen herself submitting herself to the mortal Private Willis.

Cast

Production & Backstage

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