Great Witley Operatic Society

The Gondoliers

Swan Theatre, Worcester ]

Great Witley Operatic Society do brilliant productions of Gilbert and Sullivan and this one - The Gondoliers - couldn’t have been more relevant or more up-to-date.

It involves a debate about the worth of the monarchy as opposed to republicanism: there is a royal wedding and the two main gondoliers - like the coalition formed last year - rule with no distinction between the putative kings.

The Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro have had to form themselves into a limited company to survive. This means selling “The Company” for all its worth, including photographs to Hello!.

One could go on indefinitely about the contents of this show. Let’s just say that the director Roberta Morrell seems to have realised all its satirical potential.

And not only can the cast sing and act, but they all seem in on the jokes while taking their very varied parts seriously. No, as the text says, “You can’t kiss retrospectively”. You probably will be tortured by The Inquisitor – perfectly sung by Paul Thompson – by celebrity culture.

Michael Faulkner, Michael Dhonau, Suzanne Millington and Anna Hainsworth as suffering lovers assuage their passion by singing a magnificent quartet while doing Yoga!

The Ducal family - Martin Jones, Bronwen Carless, Patricia Head, Aaron Prewer-Jenkinson (Luiz) - sing with real insight into romantic love and realistic marriage.

The set, which shows The Grand Canal at Venice, is magnificent, the chorus delightful and colourful in their splendid costumes and the music exciting. You come out singing the Fandango-Bolero. This show is understanding made into real entertainment.

- The Gondoliers runs until Saturday. For more information visit worcesterlive.co.uk, drop into the box office at Huntingdon Hall or call 01905 611427.