Gilbert and Sullivan's less well known opera gets revival

SO fond of Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy opera Utopia Limited were Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket, that they named the old manse they shared in their long-running radio and TV series after it.

Despite its popularity among those in the know, the piece remains one of the Victorian composers' most rarely performed light operas, mainly due to its expensive nature - most of the large principal cast require two costumes.

All the more reason, then, not to miss Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society's (EDGAS) production at The King's next week.

The 12th of Gilbert and Sullivan's 14 collaborations, Utopia Limited premiered on 7 October 1893.

The action of the piece concerns Princess Zara. When she arrives back in Utopia having been educated at university in Great Britain, she has numerous ideas to improve her native island.

With her she brings six gentlemen whose task it is to remodel Utopia along British principles – military, government, entertainment and fashions.

When the king's councillors, who have been pulling the strings so far, start losing their influence (and income) they are not best pleased. Turning the kingdom into a Limited Company is simply a step too far.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Edinburgh people to rediscover this almost forgotten masterpiece. The whole company has really enjoyed getting to know something new to them and everyone has been working very hard to prepare for the performances," says Ritchie Turnbull, president of EDGAS.

The production is a dream come true for Edinburgh tenor Darren Coutts, who features as Zara's beau, Captain Fitzbattleaxe. He reveals that it was while watching an earlier production of Utopia Limited that he first fell in love with G&S.

"I didn't know anything about Gilbert and Sullivan until I saw Utopia Limited. It is not well known but it made a big impact on me. The music just blew me away. It still does. It is a real gem and does not deserve to languish in obscurity any longer."

For many of the EDGAS cast next week's production will be the first time they have had a chance to perform this particular show. Fiona Main, the company's leading soprano who plays Zara, has sung most of the principal soprano roles in Gilbert & Sullivan's operas – Utopia Limited allows her to "complete the set", having been the only part to have eluded her over the last 14 years.

Directed by Alan Borthwick, with