Iolanthe: Community Opera at its Best
Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe at Franklin Light Opera was a breath of fresh air, especially because it is a community opera! The story follows Iolanthe, a fairy who is exiled from her land for marrying a mortal, and her son, Strephon, who is half-fairy and also falls in love with a mortal woman. It is silly, fun, and gives social commentary on British politics with an added modern flair that fits in very well with the source material. In her director’s note, Elizabeth Steele explains that Iolanthe is a story about “people who take themselves just a little too seriously.” I believe this was very well portrayed, and provided a wonderful two-hour break from reality. With electric guitars instead of cellos, punk rock singing instead of arias, and added lines about Timothee Chalamet, I believe Gilbert and Sullivan would have loved this funky, modern adaptation on their classic piece.
There are so many positive things to say about the overall atmosphere of this theater and this operetta. The exterior of Williamson County Performing Arts Center was decorated with pretty fairy lights and banners displaying the production posters. Upon walking in, I was greeted with smiles which added to the overall experience of seeing this production. The set was simple but effective: there was a backdrop of different fabrics behind rows of fairy lights (that of course were lit whenever the fairies came onstage) and two musicians were on the side of the stage with their many instruments. As soon as the actresses entered, there was so much joy in the air. It is so refreshing to see all different ages being on one stage, all so happy and grateful to be there. It was plain to see that everyone was ecstatic to perform this production for an audience!
The music in this production was very impressive. The ensemble took on Gilbert and Sullivan’s quirky words and fast melodies with ease. The instrumentalists on stage were fantastic, bouncing from piano, to electric guitar, to cello, while performing difficult music. I have to give props to a few members of the principal cast. Nathanael Gilkes gave such a fun, unique take on Strephon. Making his recitatives into rock serenades was a great way to add a modern flair. I found myself smiling whenever Strephon was on stage. Abby Newman has a light, beautiful soprano voice and floated up to her high notes with ease. Her portrayal of Phyllis was sassy, yet sweet and loving. Brady Klosterman was stellar as The Lord Chancellor with his smooth baritone voice and excellent diction. His patter song in the second act was a showstopper, not to mention his hilarious acting choices and improv-ed lyrics. Abe Gibson, Ashley Strella, and Paige Stinnet have powerful voices that were lovely to hear. Finally, for his first appearance being the Act 2 opener, Will Lesley was a spotlight stealer with his excellent voice and stoic presence. Brava to all!
While I would’ve loved a little more consistency in costuming as it made the context of the storyline a bit confusing, I enjoyed how comfortable everyone seemed to feel in their clothes and how unique each character’s costume was. I was additionally impressed with how well the story was portrayed. Having been in a Gilbert and Sullivan production, I know first hand how complex the storylines are, especially without subtitles. I followed the entire story of Iolanthe, all the jokes and added lines were very clear and executed well. Hats off to the ensemble members that had excellent facial expressions even in the back of a scene. The leads as well had a great grasp on their parts. It did not feel like anyone was simply standing and singing in this production, making it very entertaining and engaging.
Community opera is an experience that is not an option in many places. There are not many theaters in Nashville that put on operettas, so this production was very special! I, and many other opera lovers I am sure, greatly appreciate seeing opera performed on local stages, it makes the art form very accessible to people who might not have been exposed to it before. I wish more people had been in the audience to see this wonderful production, it was such a treat to attend. In his patter song, The Lord Chancellor mentioned Timothee Chalamet’s recent infamous statement about opera being irrelevant, and how he hopes Iolanthe proves him wrong. I would say this production proved the relevancy of opera in so many amazing ways, and gave a fresh take on a beloved operetta! Go see a Franklin Light Opera production if you want a great performance and a fun night. Or audition if you want to sing some beautiful music! Their next show is Fiddler On The Roof, September 18-20th!
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Currently studying music at Middle Tennessee State University, Vivian Acevedo is a huge theater and arts lover. She believes in the healing power of music and its importance in the world!
