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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Utopia, Limited was premiered on 7 December 1893 in the Savoy Theatre. It ran for 245 performances. With England as its model, a glamorous South Sea Island is to be reformed into a Utopia. Gilbert throws a squib at the preposterous and complacent England of the 1890's and in his own inimitable fashion "comments" on the institutions of his own elegant Victorian world, including business methods, the party political system, the Services, the Law - and even the Royal Household!

It was however, heavily contrived and showed the flagging enthusiasms of William and Arthur. The opera has had no significant professional revivals since it was launched.

The plot of the show¹ was set in a balmy South Seas island. The King's daughter returns from a stay in England and with the aid of six Englishmen (the Imported Flowers of Progress) anglicised the happy island with somewhat chaotic results. They are: Lord Dramaleigh - a British Lord Chamberlain; Captain Fitzbattleaxe - First Life Guards; and Captain Sir Edward Corcoran, KCB - of the Royal Navy. Mr Blushington of the County Council; Mr Goldbury a Company Promoter, afterwards Comptroller of the Utopian Household; and Sir Bailey Barre, QC, MP. The reforms introduced are so successful that the army, medical service, and lawyers find themselves redundant! To attempt to restore some semblance of proper balance, Government by Party is introduced with the usual hilarious side issues.

We have chosen two songs from the operetta: In Ev'ry Mental Lore is performed by two scheming Utopian judges, Scaphio and Phantis. It is situated fairly early in the first act. And Society's Wicked Courses. It is sung by King Paramount and The Flowers of Progress. This is sited shortly after the opening of the second act, when the unwitting monarch is persuaded to hold a Court Reception in the form of a minstrel show!

Like to try  In Ev'ry Mental Lore  . . .?

1.    Footnote: For further details see Binney and Lavender in the MusicSmiles bibliography. Return to story.

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