MK G&S Society ARCHIVE - Utopia Limited (October 1992)

Utopia Limited

or "The Flowers Of Progress"

First produced at the Savoy Theatre on October 7th 1893

Performances

Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Milton Keynes Bucks

19th October to 24th October 1992

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Dramatis Personae

King Paramount the First		Alf Hardacre
Judges of the Utopian Supreme Court
Scaphio		Jack Holt
Phantis		Andrew Lewis
Tarara (The Public Exploder)		Clarence Gill
Calynx (Utopian Vice-Chamberlain)		Fred Jewell
Princess Zara (Eldest daughter of King Paramount)		Jan Morris
Her younger sisters
Princess Nekaya		Karen Bradley
Princess Kalyba		Cath Bromley
Lady Sophy (Their English Governess)		Hilary Jolliff
Lord Dramaleigh (A British Lord Chamberlain)		Steve Corcoran
Captain Fitzbattleaxe (of the First Life Guards)		Clive Kelsey
Captain Corcoran K.C.B. (of the Royal Navy)		Kevin Davies
Mr Goldbury (a Company Promoter)		Alan Myers
Lady Bailey Barre Q.C. M.P.		Lesley Gray
Miss Blushington (of the County Council)		Kathryn Payne
Utopian Maindens
Phylla		Anne Kershaw
Salata		Kath Whitney
Melene		Abby Allcorn
Chorus of Utopian Citizens and Troopers		Catherine Boss Stephanie Burnham Diane Dowell Evelyn Fox Clare Gilby Nicola Jobling Jenny Joliff Susan Kent Mary Kershaw Pat Mercer Karen Platt Elizabeth Spavin Alison Statham Marjorie Swannell Lin Watson Jill White Alan Bennett Paul Bridle Tony Eyres David Jenkins Fred Mitchell Bob Newark

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Orchestra

Leader		Pat Plumstead
Violins		Daffydd Billinghurst Liz Stott Lindsay Hogg Lesley Newing
Viola		Amanda Hodges
Celli		Sue Eveson Sally Horton
Bass		Nick Dytham
Flutes		Fiona Sullivan / Lara Daniels Roger Whatmore / Kathryn Howson
Clarinets		Christine Hunt Mike James
Bassoon		Ian Every
Horn		David Lack Katrina Lauder
Trumpets		Martin Mills Michelle Upton
Trombones		Mike Crofts Martin Wakeley
Percussion		Roger Smith

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Production Team

Producer		Pauline Kent
Musical Director		Malcolm Crane
Set Design		Ken Branchette
Lighting Design		Mark Hammond

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Thanks to the following for their help:

Stage Manager		Ken Branchette
Assistant Stage Manager		Malcolm Boss
Stage Crew		ACME Stagecrew
Set Construction and Painting		Malcolm Boss Nick Boss Reg Green Mark Hammond Mike Hurrell Philip Hurrell Sam Martin Barbara Mason Ruth Sicurello Dennis Smith Roland Williamson
Lighting Crew		Cliff Gilby Martin Putman
Costumes		Utopia Costumes of Littlehampton
Wardrobe Mistresses		Eileen Horton Ann Prosser
Properties		Alan Bennett Stage Properties Alice and Roy Wright Bletchley Community Centre Members of the Society
Props. Managers		Alice and Roy Wright
Prompt		Robin Hinton Brewer
Front of House		Dennis Smith and friends
First Aid, Cloaks		St. John Ambulance
Advance Box Office		Dennis Smith
Refreshments		Christine Stewart and friends
Publicity		Jan Morris Ken Branchette Andrew Lewis Dennis Smith
Poster & Programme Logo Design		Ken Branchette
Printing		City Print (MK) Ltd
Company Photographer		Norman Kent
Rehearsal Accompanist		Ros Whatmore

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Special thanks to:

Milton Keynes Co-operative Society for Advance Box Office facilities.

Bletchley, Central Milton Keynes Libraries and Milton Keynes Co-operative Society for Displays.

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Background

"Utopia Limited" was the penultimate Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and was first performed at the Savoy Theatre on October 7th 1893. Even today much of the humour and comment is still valid and understandable.

Utopia is a South Sea island whose inhabitants wish to become 'Anglicised'. With this in mind the import six 'Flowers of Progress' who undertake this task. This scenario enables Gilbert to praise all things English, whilst poking fun at Victorian society and the many traditional pass-times of the gentry. Many of the unpleasant aspects of Victorian life - slums, poverty, crime - are help up to ridicule, and even the Court of Saint James is compared to Saint James' Hall, a well-known Music Hall of the time.

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