Gondoliers

Producers: Rita Ferguson, Christine McMahon
Artistic Team: Director: Joe Gomes/ Music Director: Ruth McDonald
Choreographer: Julie Gallie Stage Manager: Katrina Moore

Rehearsal Dates:
Monday & Wednesday -7:30 -10:30,
Saturday -10 am - 4 p.m. until Thanksgiving then as Scheduled

August 23, 25, 28, 30(principals and dancers only)
September 1(read thru), 4, 8, 11, 13 (costume measurements), 15, 18. 20. 22. 25. 27. 29
(Chorus scheduled Saturdays as required)
October 2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 (Chorus scheduled for Saturdays)
November 1, 2 (costume parade), 3, 6, 8, 10, 13
Rehearsal Venue: Christ Church (1700 Mazo Cres.Unless otherwise notified) - rooms 2 / 5 / gym

Meadowvale Theatre: Dark Week:
November 14, 15, 16, 17. 18.
Show dates: November 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 (2 shows)

                                               AUDITION Information
             Clarkson members in good standing should contact Rita Ferguson (ritaferguson@cogeco.ca )
           or Christine McMahon (christinemcm@gmail.com) by May 30th to hold their place in the ensemble.

                                                      Principal Part Auditions
                                  Email Rita Ferguson with your preferred role after April 1st. 2010
                                                        Auditions will be held June 7 and 9.

           To audition for a principal role click here for a copy of the music

Please prepare one comic monologue or one dramatic monologue - depending on the role in which you are interested - of no more than 2 minutes in length and memorized. Use established theatre works only - no self written pieces.

You will be asked perform a song from "The Gondoliers" as listed - The music for any particular role can be down loaded from this website. If unable to do so, please sing a song in a similar vein - suitable as a G & S piece. Bring accompanist music suitably bound in a binder.

All those auditioning for either a principal role or a dance role will be required to attend a movement workshop from 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on June 7,8 or 9 as booked with Rita Ferguson. Principals will do their song / monologue as scheduled before or after the dance movement. Please come suitably dressed for this 20 minute workshop with our choreographer.

Call Backs for principal roles are on Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All Call backs will be contacted with the results by phone. Be sure to leave an accurate number at which you may be reached.

THE FOLLOWING ROLES WILL BE CAST FROM WITHIN THE ENSEMBLE
" ANTONIO, Venetian Gondolier (baritone)
" FRANCESCO, Venetian Gondolier (tenor)
" GIORGIO, Venetian Gondolier (bass)
" ANNIBALE, Venetian Gondolier (speaking role/chorus)
" FIAMETTA, Contadina (mezzo-soprano)
" VITTORIA, Contadina (mezzo-soprano)
" GIULIA, Contadina (mezzo-soprano)
" CHORUS of Gondoliers and Contadine, Men-at-Arms, Heralds and Pages etc.

There are eight CHORUS numbers in total.
These include numbers written in 4 & 6 part harmony for full chorus, ladies' chorus and men's chorus.
Consequently, the chorus will be an integral part of the entire show.

The Gondoliers
Clarkson Music theatre, in celebration of its 65th anniversary, is proud to return to its roots in this year's presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan's popular operetta: The Gondoliers. Set in Venice, the story involves the young Queen Casilda of Barataria who has come to claim her long lost husband - to whom she was married as a child. Unfortunately the new king's identity is unknown: he was brought as a babe to Venice and secreted with a Gondolier but, (after "a taste for drink had doubled him up forever") the child's identity is lost or forgotten and inextricably mixed up with his own son. Who is the true king: Giuseppe or Marco? Confusion heightens as we learn that not only the two princely candidates have just married, but his true wife, Casilda loves another - the handsome Luiz. Casilda's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro, are none too pleased.
At this point, when all is in chaos, Don Alhambra, the Grand Inquisitor, intervenes to say he has discovered the old nurse to the prince, who discloses, under torture, that instead of leaving the baby with the Gondolier, she had taken and secreted him in Spain, and it is, after all, Luiz, already in love with Casilda, who is the real King of Barataria. The lovers are happily reunited. Marco, Giuseppe and their brides, together with their friends, return to Venice, "On some points rather sore but on the whole delighted".
Sullivan's music is some of his best, and includes the French gavotte, the Spanish Andalusian Cachucha, (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1--SaGvs3es for the Stratford rendition), the Italian Saltarello and Tarantella and the Barcarolle of Venice. Gilbert's script is typical and reflects the Glibert "of whimsical conceit, inoffensive cynicism, subtle satire and playful paradox". What does one do after all, when "everyone is somebody, then no-one's anybody". The Gondoliers is full of opportunities for a very large chorus. Audiences and participants -young and old - will laugh and cheer at this age old story of romance and confusion - Gilbert and Sullivan at their best.