Lamplighters Music Theatre — Attraction in San Francisco

The Lamplighters are arguably the world's best Gilbert and Sullivan interpreters today - in advance of most of the professional productions that I have seen in England or the States. They are enthusiasts for the work and it really shows.

Too often the choruses of operettas are filled by people who are not to a good standard vocally and are not given anything to do but stand there. There may be one or two good leads but there are also some major parts taken by second-rate singers, and acting ability is always sacrificed for vocal talent.

Not so at the Lamplighters.

In Lamplighters productions the principal parts are often double or triple cast by people all of whom could pass muster as the "best lead" in other companies. All of the choruses are in time, in tune and acting the part.

The production values are high, they hire and pay for a professional orchestra. They have super-titles so you can see Gilbert's full comedic powers. And they so clearly love what they are doing that the amalgam of Sullivan's joyful music and satirical wit of Gilbert's words is infectious as an audience member.

The Lamplighters are on a mission to record all of the Savoy Operas, and so they are fully producing all of them over a period of 10 years including the rarely seen "problem" operettas like The Grand Duke. Thing is, a Lamplighters version of a "problem" is usually better than other companies version of a sure-fire hit like The Mikado, while thier version of the big 3 (Pirates, Mikado, Pinafore) is reliably simply sublime.

Gilbert and Sullivan can be an acquired taste - but with these productions the on-ramp to "get it" is very small - go and see one, I'm sure you'll enjoy it as classic theatrical entertainment, hear some top-notch musical talent, and you too might just catch...

The Lamplighters are like a second family to me. I love this company and the people involved both onstage, backstage, Directors and Producers. And I'd be remitted not to mention our Musical Directors and Musicians of the Lamplighters Orchestra. Thank you all for...

I saw "HMS Pinafore" at the Mountain View CPA. Stellar! The cast was having so much fun, and they were fantastic! Lovely staging and costuming, and the venue is small so there are no bad seats. I THOROUGHLY...