Utopia Limited
The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of WA are presenting the rarely performed Utopia Limited. Performing for only the third time in WA (previous incarnations were in 1972 and 2002). This little seen production has a great deal of charm.
Set on the fictional Pacific island of Utopia, it features a colonial king keen to embrace everything English in the quest to create a perfect existence for his people. An interesting example of the British sending themselves up completely, it satires colonialism and imperialism and a multitude of British institutions - and the reason it is rarely performed is perhaps more due to the demands of a large (and predominantly male) leading cast rather than it being an outdated piece.
Set design by Barry Boyd is a practical two-level set that transforms neatly during interval from an external space to internal room, both of which are lit with great thought by Donald Allen. British costuming under the guidance of Wardrobe Heads Veronica Hudson and Gail Reading are very beautiful, especially in terms of uniforms, while the Wise Men of Utopia are costumes with flair. I felt that the Utopian ensemble were less carefully planned and lacked unity of clear location.
A strong 18-piece orchestra under the leadership of Bayden Adams played superbly, and singing was very tuneful, though unusually for this company I had difficulty discerning lyrics from quite a few of the performers.
Michael Cummins was strong as King Paramount, performing with vigour as he completes his performance cycle of all of the Gilbert and Sullivan complete operettas. Sade Stella-Joy was gorgeous as Princess Zara, returning from Girton College (not Curtin as the audience clearly misheard). A beautiful performance, and a delightful and witty ingenue who managed to also look amazing despite a resemblance to a Dolly Varden cake.
Younger sisters Nekaya and Kayla were played with great grace and fine voice by Nina Classen and Vivienne Hingston, with the ever-delightful Belinda Butler superb as their governess Lady Sophy.
Other Utopians included Wise men Scaphio (Lincoln Matrozis) and Phantis (John Meehan) working well as a double act, with enthusiastic support from Joshua Edwards as Tarara, Rick Boyd as Calyx and Ella Jurjevich as Phylla.
Princess Zara returns from England with six esteemed guests in tow. These include her love interest Captain Fitzbattleaxe, handsomely played by Samuel Yeo, Mr. Goldbury, played with lovely diction by Ian Lawrence, and ‘Dame' Billie Barr, a Supreme Court justice nicely gender flipped by Mary Vidovich. Glenn Rowan as Captain Sir Edward Corcoran allows for a brief and fun reference to HMS Pinafore, and Nick Navarra is a charming Lord Dramaleigh. The sixth flower of progress, a Mr. Blushington, is nicely played by Johan Anwar.
The ensemble works well as a team and relish the opportunity for some fun and humorous little cameos.
Utopia Limited offers a rare opportunity to complete your Gilbert and Sullivan viewing scorecard, with a show that is nicely performed.
Kimberley Shaw
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