Opera della Luna
TITLE: The Sorcerer
VENUE: Lawrence Batley Theatre
By: David Lockwood
ONE thing that can always be guaranteed when this talented company come to town is fun and laughter and no small amount of operatic prowess.
And so it proved last night when Opera della Luna made a one-night stand at the LBT with this season’s offering of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer.
Director Jeff Clarke took the story of John Wellington Wells – the legendary maker of magic and spells – and re-invented it in the sleepy English village of Ploverleigh where an aphrodisiac potion discreetly dropped into the village hall teapot causes a whole host of chaos.
The characters all fall madly in love with the first person they witness after awakening from a temporary sleep which leads to general mayhem – but, as with all feel-good stories, you know everything will work out in the end.
And a packed LBT audience (I’ve rarely seen so many people spending their winter fuel allowances under one roof) certainly drunk in the heady atmosphere.
There were several outstanding performances, not least from one of the company’s regulars, Philip Cox as Dr Daly the village vicar, and Graham Hoadly as Mrs Partlett (a pew opener with a large family chest), who owed more than touch of his character to Mrs Brown (for those familiar with the TV comedy starring Irish comedy actor Brendan O’Carroll).
Australian mezzo Sylvia Clarke and regular favourite Ian Belsey as Lady Sangazure and Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre respectively, brought some wonderful comic touches to a first half duet, while trained ballet dancer turned soprano Abigail Iveson brought much finesse to both solo and ensemble singing.
Richard Gauntlett made a suitable Wellington Wells, although his diction in the patter songs was sometimes hard to catch without amplification.
Claire Watkins as the lovelorn Constance, Oliver White as the disco dancing hippy Alexis and David Freedman as the ageing Notary completed the nine-strong line-up who were making their solitary Yorkshire date this season.
Cleverly scripted and with a marquee-like setting designed by Graham Wynne, The Sorcerer provided yet another in a long line of hits for Della Luna and their supporters will no doubt be eagerly hoping for a return visit next year.
