Iolanthe

Don’t miss the summer production of Iolanthe (or The Peer and the Peri), a whimsical, satirical operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan blending fantasy, pointed social commentary, and romance. Directed by Alyssa Weathersby with music conducted by Keith Chambers.

Houston’s longest-running opera company, Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston, brings this tale set in a magical version of England back to the stage for the first time since 2012. skewers the British legal system, the House of Lords, and Victorian sensibilities all with clever wit and a charming score.

Iolanthe opens with the return of a fairy exiled for marrying a mortal. Iolanthe’s son, Strephon—half-fairy, half-human—loves Phyllis, a ward of the Lord Chancellor, who is also his romantic rival. Chaos ensues when the fairies interfere in British politics, elevating Strephon to Parliament and upending tradition.

Opening night (July 19) will feature a Houston icon live on stage.