Off-Monroe Players - Princess Ida (2004)

Princess Ida

Ida, the daughter of Don Gama de la Mexico has taken over Fort Adamant commanded by Colonel Hildebrand.
All of the wives and daughters have joined Ida and thrown the men out.
Will the Colonel's son get Ida to open the gate?

Ida or Fort Adamant - 2004

Season: Autumn 2004

Dramatis Personae:

Colonel Hildebrand:

Jad Jordan

Captain Hilarion:

Michael Hryhorenko

Sergeant Cyril:

Stephen M. Gullo

Corporal Florian:

Bill Hammond

Don Gama de Mexico:

Ted Benedict

Arac (a Mexican Bandito):

Edward Medina-Torres

Guron (a Mexican Bandito):

Stuart Beck

Scynthius (a Mexican Bandito):

Marty Nott

Ida:

Susanna Adams

Widow Blanche:

Cynthia Cuddeback

Miss Psyche:

Melissa:

Sacharissa:

Chloe:

Ada:

Chorus of Cavalry Officers, Wives and Daughters:

Terry Benedict, Laurie Brassie, Patricia A. Montrois, Sam Nelson, David Schafer, Laurel Schneiderman

Production Staff:

Director:

Brian Smith

Musical Director:

Edward Longhurst

Production Team:

Paula Gullo, Stephen M. Gullo, Amanda Lobaugh, Patricia A. Montrois

Costume Crew:

Penny Fram, Paula Gullo, Brian Smith, Cast

Set Coordinator:

David Schafer

Lighting Designer:

Mike Molongoski

Props Mistress:

Amanda Lobaugh

Publicity:

Patricia A. Montrois, Marty Nott

A note on this production:
"Revision", "rethinking", and "revisal" are all terms used in much of today's musical theatre. With this production I encourage each of us to look at one of the lesser known Gilbert and Sullivan operas from a different angle. To use one of the terms stated, I would say that this production is a "rethinking." I have chosen to set the production during America's frontier "wild west" of the late 19^th century. The people migrating to the west were independant souls, and besides being rather colorful, made their way outside the conventions of polite society. Ida's ideas and actions exhibit a spirit of independance that made me think of the western frontier. Ida has spunk! I put her alongside Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane and even Laura Ingalls-Wilder. As I have said to the cast and others, I only change the setting if I can maintain Gilbert's plot distinctions. In the case of Ida the castle becomes a fort, King Hildebrand, his son and court become a U.S. Cavalry outpost, and Princess Ida, her father and brothers come from Mexico. The choice of Mexico was made because of geography, a different culture and a society that still had titles, i.e. "Don" Gama.

I hope you enjoy this production and the opportunity it affords to "rethink" Princess Ida, with Gilbert's case distinctions intact.

Photos by Marty Nott

Princess Ida 2004 a Princess Ida 2004 b