New book and lyrics
by Frank Hatherley
Music by Franz Lehar
Directed by Peter
Smith
Musical Direction by
Jennifer Groom
Queanbeyan Players at
the Q Theatre, Queanbeyan to 19 November
Reviewed by Len Power
4 November 2016
Franz Lehar’s ‘The Merry Widow’ has been an international
hit since it first opened in Vienna in 1905 and is frequently revived even though
operettas are rarely performed these days.
The story concerns a rich widow and her countrymen trying to keep her
money in their principality by finding her the right husband.
In Frank Hatherley’s libretto, the principality becomes
Australia and the action occurs in the Australian Embassy in Paris. The change works very well, creating an
opportunity for some fun with Australian dinkum characters. While the lyrics have been changed to suit
the new book, the music score is essentially the same and what a beautiful score
it is.
There are some good classical trained cast members who are
able to sing the score very well. Louise
Keast sings and acts the Widow very appealingly and Charles Hudson as her
intended, Danny Macquarie, also has a fine voice and effortlessly captures the style
required for this type of character. Ken
Goodge plays and sings Camille very well and Matt Greenwood as the French translator,
Michelin, gives a good comic performance.
Robert Grice is perfect as the ocker Australian Ambassador and Stephanie
McAlister is good fun as his wife who flirts with Camille. The rest of the cast give fine vocal support.
Jennifer Groom’s orchestra took a while to settle down on
opening night but then played the score nicely.
Thompson Quan Wing’s simple and practical set design works well and the period
costumes by Janetta McRae are fine. More
attention needs to be given to the sound.
There were far too many body mikes not turned on until after the actors
began speaking, sound levels were all over the place and lyrics could not be
heard clearly.
It was fairly obvious that the choreographer, Belinda Hassall,
had to deal with a cast of mostly non-dancers.
The dance that did work fine was ‘The Ladies Of Paree’ number
towards the end of the show, which was able to make an amusing feature of the
fact that the characters were not really dancers.
Peter Smith’s production appeared to need more rehearsal
time. Many cast members were rather
stiff in the delivery of their lines and they were often too slow with their cues. Their characterizations and the pace of the
show suffered accordingly.
The show’s strengths – the music, the funny new book and the
fine singing by the principals – manage to outweigh the areas where the production
falls short. The seductive music of ‘The
Merry Widow’ is always a joy to hear.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Artcetera’ program on Saturdays from
9.00am.