Rare opera outing is a hilarious treat

SECOND-LAST of Gilbert and Sullivan’s great run of Savoy Operas, Utopia Limited is not often staged — the resident company at the annual G&S Festival has done it only once before.

I am with George Bernard Shaw, who loved it. Yes, it has faults: Act 1 is too long and wordy, although as they are Gilbert’s words, they are mostly droll; and Act 2 is wrapped up with almost indecent haste.

Seeing the Pacific island of Utopia being made into a limited company, at the behest of the King’s Girton-educated eldest daughter Zara, is hilarious, especially the Cabinet meeting to end all such gatherings in Act 2. No expense has been spared, particularly in the costume department: all the woman especially are gorgeously turned out. King Paramount, sonorously voiced by Ben McAteer ( far left), could do with a better wig and throne, but the stage is always interesting.

Monica McGhee is a lovely, suitably steely Zara and as Captain Fitzbattleaxe — one of the ‘Flowers of Progress’ that she enlists for her anglicisation programme — Anthony Flaum copes well with being asked by the authors to sing badly! The other ‘Flowers’ are well cast, especially Mr Goldbury ( left) the company promoter (Paul Featherstone) and Lord Dramaleigh the Lord Chamberlain (Tim Walton).

John Andrews conducts with vim, the National Festival Orchestra plays stylishly and the choruses and other big scenes go with a swing. This production really should be seen as the festival transfers to Harrogate.

Utopia Limited will be staged at the G&s Festival, Harrogate, this sunday and saturday, august 20; gsfestivals.org.