Smooth sailing for 'Gondoliers'

THE GONDOLIERS, de Jong Concert Hall, Brigham Young University, Provo (422-7664), running time: 140 minutes (one intermission)

PROVO — "The Gondoliers," directed by Lawrence Vincent, previewed Wednesday in the de Jong Concert Hall at Brigham Young University, a treat for Gilbert and Sullivan fans and a delightful introduction for first timers.

The contrived plot, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, contorted rhymes and stylized and melodramatic performances sparkle with fun and wit through the lilting music (also typical of the more familiar "Pirates of Penzance" and "The Mikado").

This plot involves two brothers, gondoliers in Venice, who learn that one of them is a king, taken in for safe-keeping as an infant during political unrest. With the father dead, no one knows which is which. The Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro arrive from Spain with their daughter Casilda, who was married to the king when both were babies. In the meantime, the two brothers have married local girls, and only the old royal nurse can tell which young man is the king and an unintentional bigamist. A search begins for the nurse.

Fortunately, this complicated story becomes clear through the music and the lyrics AND the supertitles above the stage. Although it's in English, the lyrics are so fast and convoluted that one appreciates the text display.

The dialogue comes as a nice contrast to the pell-mell tempo of the songs. However, on the preview night, the pacing occasionally dragged, and the volume of the singing was sometimes weak until halfway through the first act.

The competent cast for the Wednesday (and Friday) performances includes Andy Rasmussen as the Duke; Sarah Callahan, the Duchess; Karen Whidden, Casilda; and the brothers played by Zach Milliman as Marco Palmieri and Miles Romney as Giuseppe Palmieri.

Both the solo and ensemble numbers were very well done, and the audience responded enthusiastically. As light as the story and music may seem, Gilbert and Sullivan's work requires top vocal quality, and this production met that challenge.

The performance is enhanced by the artificial and extremely elegant styles of the 1700s, elaborate white wigs, stiff bodices and wide skirts of satin designed by Deanne DeWitt and Donnette Perkins.

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E-mail: marshalldj@iveracity.com