CMU To Present 'Iolanthe' June 8-9

Filed under CMU News on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

The annual summer performance workshop at Central Methodist University this year features the famed Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Iolanthe.

The production by CMU's Swinney Conservatory will be staged Friday and Saturday, June 8-9 at CMU's Little Theatre in Fayette. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $7.50; senior citizens and students with ID are $5.

Both W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were at the height of their creative powers in 1882 when they wrote Iolanthe, or The Peer and the Peri. The satirical "fairy opera" storyline takes shots at the British aristocracy, and specifically lampoons its House of Lords.

Strephon (Levi Gerke of Pilot Grove), an Arcadian shepherd, wants to marry Phyllis (Lacey Eaton of Fayette), a Ward of Chancery. Phyllis does not know that Strephon is half fairy, and when she sees Strephon kissing a seemingly young woman, she assumes the worst. But her "rival" turns out to be none other than Strephon's own mother, Iolanthe (Brittany Losh of Pacific Heights), a fairy-and fairies never grow old!

But Phyllis' guardian, the Lord Chancellor (Michael O'Neill of Lebanon), and half the peers in the House of Lords are sighing after her. Soon the peers and the fairies are at war, and long friendships are nearly torn asunder. But all is happily sorted out, thanks to the "subtleness of the legal mind."

Dr. Susan Quigley-Duggan, CMU assistant professor of voice and opera, serves as musical and staging director and conductor. Kelley Head, CMU adjunct professor of music, is accompanist. The technical coordinator is Gregory Owen, CMU adjunct professor of theatre.

Iolanthe is sponsored by the CMU Theatre Fund, the Fayette Area Community Trust, the Kountz Fund, a grant from Sigma Alpha Iota, and by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Additional cast members include Dane Johnson of Columbia (Lord Mountarrat), Todd Oberlin of Columbia (Lord Tolloler), Tanjie Hoover of New Franklin (Fairy Queen), Khobic Johnson of Waynesville (Private Willis), Cortney Myers of Fayette (Celia), Rebecca Shroyer of Boonville (Leila), and Crystal Beeler of Glasgow (Fleta).

Playing the role of Fairies are Ava and Anna Valencia of Fayette, Sara Glynn of Fayette, Victoria Warren of Fayette, Lakyn Baker of Fayette, Cheyenne Boggs of New Franklin, and Taneal Hoover of New Franklin.

Peers will be played by Luke McKinney of Harrisburg, Joe Jefferies of Fayette, Thomas Myers of Fayette, Daniel Primm of St. Louis, Austin Long of Hannibal, Brad Smith of Mexico, and Khobic Johnson.

Instrumentalists are Donald Heaton of Chillicothe (oboe), Nathan Gargus of Owensville (percussion), Dr. Ron Shroyer of Boonville (clarinet), Jo Shroyer of Boonville and Dr. Dori Waggoner of Fayette (flute), Ted Spayde of Fayette (bass), Jeff Miner of Fayette (trumpet), and Deborah Litwiller of Boonville (violin).

Rebecca Shroyer is charged with set painting, and Terri Rohlfing of Fayette with costuming.

For more information, contact Ruth Spayde at CMU's Swinney Conservatory of Music, 660-248-6317.

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