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Music by
Franz Lehar - New book and lyrics by Frank Hatherley
Directed by
Peter Smith - Musical Direction by Jennifer Groom
Choreographed
by Belinda Hassall - Set Design by Thompson Quan Wing
Costumes
designed by Janetta McRae - Presented by Queanbeyan Players
The
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre until 19th November 2016
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Despite its bumpy,
under-rehearsed opening night performance, Queanbeyan Players production of
“The Merry Widow from Bluegum Creek” still managed to charm, not the least
because of Frank Hatherley’s entertaining new book and lyrics.
Hatherley
has set his version of “The Merry Widow” in the Australian Embassy in Paris in
1901. The storyline follows closely on previous versions, but many of the
characters have been australianised to create some very funny comic situations.
He has managed this without either bowdlerising the characters or compromising
the integrity of Lehar’s music.
In fact, Lehar’s glorious score remains
largely intact, and is the great strength of this production, being very well performed by Jennifer Groom’s large
orchestra, and generally well sung by the cast.
Director,
Peter Smith, has assembled a cast of impressive singers, led by Louise Keast,
who charms as the widow, Anna Gladstone, and provides the vocal highlight of
the evening with her superb rendition of “Vilia” (in this version called
“Bluegum”). Charles Hudson is also very
well cast as her reluctant love interest, Danny Macquarie.
Fine singing
also from Ken Goodge and Stephanie McAlister, obviously relishing their roles
as the lecherous Count Camille de Rosillon and his flirtatious paramour, Lady
Valerie Wentworth, from Matt Greenwood, nailing every laugh with a fine comic
performance as the embassy’s only Frenchman, Michelin, and from Thompson Quan
Wing, who not only designed the attractive setting, but also slyly flaunts an impeccable
French accent to great effect.
Robert Grice
earns his fair share of laughs as the bumbling Australian Ambassador, and
Janene Broere shines as the doyen of the Embassy wives, leading them with gusto
through a display of unsuspected talents, as French can-can dancers.
Hopefully,
blemishes which took the gloss off opening night, like remembering to switch
body-mics on and off; smartening up responses to line cues, and mastering
Belinda Hassall’s very basic choreography, will be attended to so that Lehar’s
glorious music, and Hatherley's very funny script can shine through, without
distraction.
Photo: Louise Keast as Anna Gladstone (Centre)
L to R: Jono Windsor, Thompson Quan Wing, Tony Betts, Adrian Van Prooyen, Peter Smith.
Photographer: Ali Newhouse
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 6th November 2016