Gondoliers and Men-at-Arms
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UNDERSTUDIES
Don Alhambra
Giorgio
The Duchess of Plaza-Toro

David Cutts, Erica Folta
Mark Callahan, Garry Jacobsen
Ed Kerrigan, Dave Unsworth
Dave Unsworth
Jane Coates, Bonnie-Jean Connal
Marylin Currier, Erica Folta
Linda Henderson, Claire McCarthy
Lori McClain, Glenda Sohl
Sharon Connol Webster
Ted Merwin, Tom Shultzman

 
John Freedman *
Garry Jacobsen *
Denise Shultzman
* Will perform these roles at the Sat. matinee.

Gondoliers on Video!

     You can find some video clips from this production by going to youtube.com and searching for “Connecticut Gilbert Gondoliers”.

Our 2014 Season

Despite a shortened practice schedule, rehearsals went quite well. The chorus worked hard at the Sunday rehearsals, and the principals worked even harder, having additional Tuesday practices. Even the klutziest terpsichoreans finally got the hang of singing and dancing at the same time after John Dreslin hammered the Cachucha into our brains and Bob Cumming and Cat Young pounded the steps into our reflexes.

Our Traveling Minstrels presented two previews of Gondoliers plus other G&S favorites. One at the intimate performing space of the Appletree in Middletown, the other at the large Stoneridge Retirement Home in Mystic followed by a birthday party for John Dreslin at his house. Attendance at both events filled the houses.

The stage crew loaded the scenery into the wagons on Friday night before tech week instead of Saturday so erecting the set that weekend went much faster than usual. For the second year we set up on the well-equipped stage of Valley Regional High School in Deep River.

Tech rehearsals went surprisingly well, with one exception. The gondola in which Marco and Giuseppe and later the Ducal party arrives stubbornly refused to pull up to the dock properly. After many misdirected trials (and language) John Sloan (the human third rail) came to the rescue by lying prone behind the craft to guide it to its mooring! A smooth dress rehearsal belied the usual prediction, since our three performances went off without a hitch.

Dismantling the set was also rapid, and cast and crew enjoyed a pot-luck dinner at Bill Sorensen’s church after restoring the scenery to his barn.