LEND ME A TENOR - Free Rain Theatre - ACT Hub.

John Whinfield (Max) - William 'Wally' Allington (Tito Merelli) in Free Rain Theatre's production of  "Lend Me a Tenor"

Written by Ken Ludwig – Designed and Directed by Cate Clelland

Costumes designed by Fiona Leach – Properties by Rosemary Gibbons

Sound design by Neville Pye – Lighting Design by David Brown

Stage Management by Charlie & Sam Harbison-Gehrmann

Free Rain Theatre, 17 – 27 September 2025.

Opening night performance on 17^th September reviewed by BILL STEPHENS.

Michael Sparks (Saunders) - Justice-Noah Malfitano (Bellhop) - William 'Wally' Allington (Tito Merelli)- Sally Cahill (Julia) - Christina Falsone (Maria) - Meaghan Stewart (Diana)- Maxine Beaumont (Maggie) in Free Rain Theatre's production of "Lend Me A Tenor).

An Opera Company’s worst nightmare. The Cleveland Grand Opera Company’s expensive world-famous guest tenor, Tito Merelli, has not arrived in time for its all-important dress rehearsal for his once-only appearance in their production of Pagliacci.

When Merelli eventually arrives, accompanied by his fiery wife, Maria, he is unco-operative and pleading the need to rest, refuses any rehearsal before that evening’s performance.

Frustrated by his star’s behaviour, the General Manager of the opera Company, Henry Saunders charges his harried assistant, Max with the task of making sure Merelli gets to the opera house in time for the performance.

On learning Max has an interest in singing opera, Merelli gives him a singing lesson, after which, to insure Merelli gets his rest, Max slips a tranquilizer into his drink, unaware that Merelli has already taken a double-dose of tranquilizers.

Later, when Max tries to awaken Merelli, he finds him unresponsive and assumes that he is dead. Horrified, he notifies Saunders, and Julia, the Chairperson of the Opera Guild. Chaos ensures while they hatch a preposterous plan to have Max substitute for Merelli in the opera.

Meanwhile, Merelli revives and slips out via a side door, providing the perfect set-up for an evening of hilarious, cleverly staged slapstick, replete with witty dialogue, mistaken identities, and a surprise behind every door in the striking art-deco setting designed by Clelland.

John Whinfield (Max) - William 'Wally' Arlington (Tito Merelli) in "Lend Me A Tenor"

Supporting the deco concept, costume designer Fiona Leach captures the period by costuming the ladies in gorgeous authentic thirties-period gowns, furs and lingerie, and the men in smart period day and evening wear.

Under Clelland’s direction her accomplished cast captures the correct mood, creating well-rounded characterisations without losing the essential silliness necessary to engage the audience with the farcical situations.  

William 'Wally' Allington (Tito Merelli) - John Whinfield (Max) in "Lend Me A Tenor"

William ‘Wally’ Allington and John Winfield are well cast as the capricious opera star, Tito Merelli, and his reluctant carer, Max. The essential camaraderie of their developing relationship is engagingly realised, and their impressive rendition of the duet “Dio che nell’alma infondere” from the Verdi opera Don Carlos earned them an appreciative ovation.

Sally Cahill (Julia) - Michael Sparks (Saunders)- Justice-Noah Malfitano (Bellboy) 
 John Whinfield (Max) - Maxine Beaumont (Maggie) in "Lend Me A Tenor". 

Michael Sparks is totally convincing as the Opera Company’s General Manager, Saunders, the outraged father of the adventurous Maggie, engagingly portrayed by Maxine Beaumont, while Sally Cahill delights as the dotty, manipulative Opera Guild Chairperson, Julia.

Christina Falsone revels in the role as Merelli’s fearsome Italian wife, Maria, and while Meaghan Stewart’s interpretation of Diana, the man-eating soprano who doesn’t rely on her voice to achieve operatic heights, is entertaining, a little less aggression, and a little more elegance, would make her portrayal more believable.

Meaghan Stewart (Diana) - William 'Wally' Allington (Tito Merelli) in "Lend Me A Tenor"

And proving that there is no such thing as a small role, Justice-Noah Malfitano milks every moment he is on stage to steal more than his fair share of the laughs as the pushy bellhop fan of Tito Merelli.

With this delightfully entertaining production of “Lend Me A Tenor” Free Rain Theatre have produced a winner.  It would be a pity to miss it.

 

                                               Photos by Janelle McMenamin

   This review also published in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW. www.artsreview.com.au