Skip to main content
The Gondoliers logo

The Gondoliers

Operetta

Overview

Synopsis

The twelfth collaboration between composer Arthur Sullivan and librettist W.S. Gilbert, The Gondoliers (or The King of Barataria) tells the story of two charming Venetian gondoliers, Giuseppe and Marco, who are informed that due to an error of identity when they were young boys, one of them is the heir to the throne of Barataria. They are delighted with the situation and agree to share the responsibilities of governing their new kingdom until it can be ascertained which of them is which, but matters are complicated when the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro reveal that their beautiful daughter, Casilda, was married to the future king as an infant. The problem? Giuseppe and Marco are both newly married to the contadine Tessa and Gianetta, and Casilda is in love with her father’s attendant, Luiz. Since its premiere in 1889, The Gondoliers has delighted audiences with its memorable score by Sullivan, and its political satire, cleverly tucked into Gilbert’s witty plot line.

Show Information

Category
Operetta
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1889
Genres
Comedy, Satire
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
mid-1800s, venice, italy; fictional barataria
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Musical Staging
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast

Characters

Showing 8 of 18 characters

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Gondoliers.

Showing 8 of 12 portrayals

View all character portrayals for The Gondoliers

Want to be featured on this page? Update your credits.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Videos