Gilbert & Sullivan’s third collaboration and first in the attempt to create a truly English form of light opera, The Sorcerer, is a very silly plot concerning a love potion distributed to an entire town in an attempt to force social equality. The Theatre at Monmouth’s 2014 production was to be a fairly period, and the concept I was given as a set designer was to be “abstract and beautiful”, but also Victorian. So I looked over the idea of the village green and its execution in small British towns, and added a little flair of my own.
The Village of Ploverleigh sign from The Sorcrerer.
The clock, decorating the SL box. It actually worked.
The Sorcerer, act One. Full stage.
Upstage detail, Act One.
Back wall hedge and mural detail, act one.
Full Stage, Act Two (Night)
Upstage detail, Act Two
Painting detail, act two.
Act One, the Incantation! Appear, Appear, Appear!
Act one, finale. “Oh Marvellous Illusion! O Terrible Surprise!” Photo by Dawn McAndrews
Act One, ballad. “I was a pale young curate then!” Photo by Dawn McAndrews
Act Two, “’tis Twelve, I think.”
The transition from day into night was accomplished using invisible UV-reactive paint, something I had experimented with before but never put to full use in a theatrical production.
Details from Theater at Monmouth.
Review from BroadwayWorld.
A Play by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
Director Bill Van Horn
Music Director Rebecca Caron
Choreographer Adam P. Blais
Costume Designer Michelle Handley
Lighting Designer Jim Alexander
Stage Manager Beka Bryer