Sorcerer – 2016

About The Sorcerer
Before there was Upstairs, Downstairs or Downton Abbey, there was The Sorcerer — Gilbert and Sullivan’s playful and humorous look at love and magic in the class-conscious world of Victorian England. Set in the tiny West Country village of Ploverleigh, where everyone “knows his place,” Alexis Pointdextre and Aline Sangazure are to be engaged. He is the heir to the lord of the manor; she is similarly high-born.

Alexis is so in love with love that he wants everyone to experience it — regardless of age, rank, or wealth. He hires a genuine magician to spike the tea at his betrothal party with a love potion that will make the villagers fall for the first person they see. The story swiftly becomes Downton Abbey meets A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Alexis’ grand plan backfires. Only drastic measures can set things right.

The Sorcerer, originally produced in 1877, was Gilbert and Sullivan’s first full-length opera written for Richard D’Oyly Carte and features the recognizable prototypes of the G&S patter man, the stout and solid baritone, and the aging contralto, among other familiar characters. The show was an instant success and the trio went on to create such masterpieces as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado.

Directors for The Sorcerer
Tony Parkes (Stage Director) was introduced to Gilbert & Sullivan at the age of eight by his parents, who gave him recordings of highlights from several operas including The Sorcerer. While other boys were memorizing baseball statistics, Tony memorized the patter songs. He dreamed of singing G&S onstage but was led to pursue a career as a teacher and caller of traditional square and contra dances. After calling in 35 states, Canada and Europe, Tony returned to his childhood dream and joined the Sudbury Savoyards in 1997. With them he has performed in all 13 extant G&S operas, several in leading roles. In 2014 he was Associate Stage Director and Choreographer for Sudbury’s Pirates of Penzance. This year Tony makes his directorial debut and looks forward to working with many of the friends he has made in the past 19 productions.

Craig Tata (Music Director) began studying violin at age 10, and by 11 was learning other instruments as well. He received an undergraduate degree in instrumental music education from Westfield State College before attending the University of Miami, where he received a master’s degree in music with an emphasis on conducting. After Miami, he taught music at every level from third grade through college, and was a frequent guest music director for the University of Central Florida’s Theater Department. He is currently a regular performer with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and was most recently seen in the role of Melchior in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors.

Production Team
Costume Design: Lucy Dean
Costume Construction: Sue Flint
Light: David Silber
Makeup: Kiri Chetwynd
Paint: Linnea Martin
Props: Susan Beckett
Set Design: Laurel Martin
Set Construction Chief: David Cassavaugh
Sound: Elizabeth Havenor
Stage Manager: Bill Fisher
Assistant Stage Manager: Nadine Sa

Co-Cast Managers: Ann Ferentz and Chris Fanger
Graphic Design: Susan Beckett
House Manager: Dennis O’Brien
Internal Sales: Ellen Simmons
Photographer: Chris Pollari
Playbill Ads: Hersch Clopper
Playbill Layout Chief: Randall Warniers
Publicity: Andrea Roessler
Social Co-Chairs: Randy and Cat Glidden
Tickets Chief: Lyra O’Brien
Co-Orchestra Managers: Andrew Conway and Lynn Sa
Videographer: Shawn Whitaker