10 April 2012
Over at the Union they are, gloriously, away with the fairies. After director Sasha Regan’s success with an all-male Pirates of Penzance, she returns to Gilbert and Sullivan with a gloriously inventive all-male Iolanthe, which sees a group of immortal fairies square up to some fusty old codgers from the House of Lords.
It’s a sight of rare joy indeed to witness a chorus of men, all dolled up in silks and scanties, singing "We are dainty little fairies". The whole thing is camper than a field of tents but it looks superb, sounds divine and ends happily. Who could ask for more?
Iolanthe, until December 11 (020 7261 9876, uniontheatre.biz)
All-Male: Iolanthe
Union Theatre
Union Street, Southwark, SE1 0LX
