Previews and Reviews

This year's production of Princess Ida is already garnering media attention. Here are excerpts from articles appearing in the local media, along with links to the full articles:

"Frolicking with Gilbert, Sullivan and The Savoyards": "[T]he Savoy Opera Orchestra... played smoothly and with brio under the musical direction of Alan Riley Jones... For stage director/choreographer Derrick Ivey it is also the ninth outing with this exuberant company of cheerful players... The plot of Princess Ida is one of the classic ones, involving the luring of a smart woman from her chaste world of learned women into the world of men and marriage... There's a hilarious song/skit about how Hildebrand's courtiers are to treat Gama if he comes with her or without [Princess Ida]. Without her it is, but Gama (delightfully acted and sung by John Adams) is such an aggressive old goat that he sets Hildebrand's court on its ear, rather than the other way around. The grand silliness progresses from there...Zest is the byword for this show, and it is thoroughly enjoyable. The set by Richard Dideriksen and costumes by Karen Guidry and Diane Woodard combine medieval elements with retro-futuristic ones in a way that makes you laugh with pleasure... " Kate Dobbs Ariail, Classical Voices North Carolina [full review]

"Princess Ida": "The Durham Savoyards are serving up another timeless Gilbert and Sullivan musical farce, Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant. [It] satirizes women's education, feminism and Darwinism...heated Victorian (and amazingly current) topics of the day... The Durham Savoyards are a treasured local institution, and as usual there's only one weekend to catch them." Christina Cass, Independent Weekly [full review]

"Durham Savoyards, Ltd. Director Derrick Ivey Sets Gilbert & Sullivan’s Princess Ida in Outer Space" Byron Woods, Independent Weekly [full review]