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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

LONJ CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH “THE GONDOLIERS”

Light Opera of New Jersey presents

Light Opera of New Jersey (LONJ) celebrates their 20th anniversary with Gilbert and Sullivan's popular

THE GONDOLIERS, or The King of Barataria 

WHEN: October 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 8 PM and Oct.12 at 2 PM
WHERE:
St Mark's Church, 140 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge
TICKETS: $20 –$30 depending upon location
TICKETS for the GONDOLIERS

For the past twenty years, LONJ has presented September Song. an annual fundraiser for St. Mark's Church music program, featuring a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. This year, the celebration production is in October, and the focus is the popular G&S show, The Gondoliers.   

The Gondoliers is one of Gilbert & Sullivan's great successes. The story centers around two young Venetian gondolieri, Marco and Giuseppe Palmieri, who find that one is actually heir to the throne of Barataria. Lovely Venetian maidens have their hearts set on these two and marriages ensue with the charming Tessa and Gianetta.

Complications begin to form when the fame-seeking Duke & Duchess of Plaza-Toro appear. Their daughter, Casilda, was wedded as a baby to the soon-to-be king. Problem is, no one can figure out which man is the right one. Don Alhambra, The Grand Inquisitor, admits to a mix up when he brought the infant prince to Venice. He summons the only person who can identify the heir, the nurse Inez.

In classic G&S style, a series of twists and turns plays out to a delightful ending that has a few surprises.