MEDIA RELEASE 15 October 2006

Princess Ida In Dunedin

Gilbert and Sullivan's hilarious feminist opera "Princess Ida" opens at the Mayfair Theatre for six performances only on Saturday 28 October.

Superb young Melbourne lyric tenor, Stephen Smith, plays Prince Hilarion, with stunning former Washington National Opera soprano, Rae Shurbutt, in the title role.

Book now at Regent Ticketek for this excellent end-of-year entertainment. "Princess Ida", the seventh opera in the complete series of "Savoy" Operas is being presented in Dunedin in historic sequence, from 2002 to 2012, by the Really Authentic Gilbert and Sullivan Performance Trust.

Princess Ida has a delightful mixture of Gilbertian mock heroism, savagely comic lines, satire on women's education and the Darwinian theory of evolution, characters one can identify with and even love despite themselves, and a musical score - often referred to as a "string of pearls" - combining vigour and tenderness, rumbustiousness and charm and good tunes which you'll find yourself whistling as you leave the theatre.

Princess Ida will be staged at the Mayfair Theatre, Dunedin, at public performances on Sunday 29 October 2006 at 2.30pm, then on Tuesday 31 October, Wednesday 1, Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November at 8pm.

Director: Hilary Norris Musical Director: Michael Andrewes

Outstanding Melbourne lyric tenor, Stephen Smith, appears as Prince Hilarion with stunning former Washington National Opera dramatic soprano, Rae Shurbutt, as Princess Ida

Lavishly authentic costumes are designed by Annette Waugh, with armour by Karl Hart, sets by Wayne Everson and props and accessories by Rosie Olsen.

The Southern Sinfonia accompanies in the pit.

Book now at Regent Ticketek, Forsyth Barr House, (03) 477 8597 for this splendid end-of-year entertainment.

Ends

© Scoop Media