Lend Me A Tenor by Ken Ludwig.
Directed and designed by
Cate Clelland. Sound design Neville Pye. Lighting design David Brown. Costume
design Fiona Leach. Properties Rosemary Gibbons. Free-Rain Theatre Company at
ACT HUB, September 17-27. 2025. Bookings 62108748 or enquiries@acthub.com.au
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
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| Sall Cahill as Julia, Justice-Noah Malfitano as Bellhop, Maxine Beaumont as Maggie and Michael Sparks as Saunders in Free Rain's production of Ken Ludwig's Lend Me A Tenor |
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| John Whinfield as Max. William ("Wally") Allington as Tito |
When international opera star Tito Merelli
(William (“Wally”) Allington) is unable to perform in Cleveland Opera Society’s
gala premiere meek and mild Max (John Whinfield) is forced by society President
(Michael Sparks) to fill in. And that is where the chaos begins. This is farce
at its very best, timed to perfection, played with grand operatic fervour by a
company of actors in full command of Ludwig’s frenetic characters. Sparks’s
Saunders desperately tries to keep control of the ludicrous situation. As Max’s
fiancée, Maxine Beaumont is sweet innocence itself in contrast to neurotic and
vampish soprano Diana (Meaghan Stewart). Christina Falsone once again commands
the stage with a volatile performance as Tito’s fiery Italian wife Maria.
Natural comic Justice-Noah Malfitano is pure Commedia as the manic Bellhop and
Sally Cahill is immediately recognizable as Julia, the country Grand Dame of
the local provincial society. Whinfield
is perfectly cast as the straight man caught in a maelstrom of hilarious
madness.
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| Meaghan Stewart as Diana, WilliamWally) Allington as Tito |
Ludwig’s mastery of plotting is brilliant invention as both Max and Tito, dressed as identical clowns cause utter confusion. Clelland maintains expert control of the action as Keystone Cops meet the Marx Brothers meet Fawlty Towers. Clelland also keeps a tight leash on any ham acting that could lapse into incredulity. The actors play absurdity with relish but never at the expense of the willing suspension of disbelief. This is farce mixed with passion that at any moment could result in catastrophe. Ludwig has loaded his play with the perilous moments of panic and discovery.
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| Willim "Wally"Allington as Tito. John Whinfield as Max |
Lend Me A Tenor is not instantly a play that I would associate with an ACT HUB repertoire. When it is done with such flair and theatrical virtuosity then it deserves to be seen by every audience. The curtain call speed run of the entire play is a thrill worth every bit of the laughter and applause that it received on opening night. The play is a witty parody of every local arts society. The tongue is firmly in the cheek and there will be many a member of an audience who will recognize poor Max caught in an impossible situation or the blustering apoplectic Saunders, the vampish lead soprano Diana, the innocent Maggie or the clownish Bellhop. Tito and Maria’s slanging matches are true to Italian passion.
Special mention should be made of
Allington and Whinfield’s singing coaches in the creation of a stunning duet
between the two tenors. Sarah Louise Owens and Sharon Tree ensure that Max is a
worthy substitute for Il Stupendo Merelli while Dianna Nixon and Tara Mac
Davidson lend fine voice to Allington’s Tito. Clelland’s keen eye for detail in
characterization and stage business gives professional gloss to this joyful production.
Free-Rain’s production of Lend Me A Tenor is the perfect antidote
to the woes of troubled times. Leave your critic’s head at home and simply
delight in this first-rate production of Ludwig’s fun-filled parody. Even if
you wince in recognition, just remember this is farce, superbly played and
hitting the high notes of an entertaining night at the theatre.
Photos by Janelle McMenamin
