Princess Ida (or Castle Adamant)
by W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan
Victorian Lyric Opera Company
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, Rockville, MD Performed June 2019 Music Director - Joseph Sorge
Assistant Music Director - Amy Broadbent Assistant Director - Kathleen Alvania Production Assistant - Rishabh Bajekal Rehearsal Accompanists - Ross Capon, Judy Gardner, Erica Rome Stage Manager - Doug Maryott Assistant Stage Manager - Christine Hurst Set Design - Bill Pressley Costume Coordinator - Denise Young Lighting Design - Matthew Bailey Cast Princess Ida - Erica Ferguson (and Elizabeth Thomas (6/14)) Prince Hilarion - James Carpenter and Billy Binion King Hildebrand - Blair Eig King Gama - John Barclay Burns Cyril - Rick DuPuy Florian - Bob Gudauskas Lady Blanche- Jenellen Fischer Lady Psyche - Madeleine Koon Melissa - Amanda Jones Sacharissa - Christine Pash Chloe - Sarah Seider Ada - Karen Wahl Arac - Michael Beder Guron - Joshua Milton Scynthius - Timothy Ziese |
Reviews"... the production is directed with both wit and keen attention to detail and stylistics by Helen Aberger." - Prince George's Sentinel
"This revitalization of classic operetta is executed to near perfection and is simply not to be missed." - TheatreBloom |
Ensemble
Aliyah Fischer, Julia Frank, Tom Goode, Tara Hockensmith, Lillian Hoehl, Chuck Howell, Rand Huntzinger, David Jeffrey, Ralph Johnson, Gabriella Jones, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Dave Robinson, Sarah Robinson, Cheryl Stafford, Gary Sullivan, Caleb Thomas, Maria Wilson, Kent Woods.
Aliyah Fischer, Julia Frank, Tom Goode, Tara Hockensmith, Lillian Hoehl, Chuck Howell, Rand Huntzinger, David Jeffrey, Ralph Johnson, Gabriella Jones, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Dave Robinson, Sarah Robinson, Cheryl Stafford, Gary Sullivan, Caleb Thomas, Maria Wilson, Kent Woods.
To our new audience members: Welcome! We are so glad you are here! Please know that the character of Princess Ida is not a Disney princess (i.e. head over heels for a Prince and challenged by some ill fate). I apologize to those who came hoping she is, but truth be told, she isn't. Those already familiar with the show will agree that she is not. And to those faithful G&S fans - please know that our production is not about men versus women, as it is often played.
Our Princess Ida is about traditions and "norms" being questioned and bucked. It is about breaking with expectation, patterns, and societal pressure in order to listen to ourselves. Sometimes, though, in order to "break," we take a tone that is just as strident as what we are breaking from. However - by realizing this, by witnessing our thoughts and actions - we make a new normal, a new tradition: one of listening, compromise, and respect.
-Helen Aberger, Stage Director
Photo credits: Harvey Levine