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The Merry Widow
Presented by: Babirra Music Theatre
Venue: The whitehorse Centre, Nunawading
Reviewer: Craig Maloney
Date Reviewed: 1st June 2008 - 2pm Matinee
The Merry Widow, often called the queen of operettas, which has had
the great dames of opera perform the title role such as Dame Joan
Sutherland, June Bronhill to name a few, (from reading the program
the director Rachel Buckley has also played the role before). The
story an amusing and engaging 3-act operetta (which went for 3 hours
with 2 short 20 minute intervals), is actually a love story that is
set in Paris in the 1800s. Overall, the show was well presented as
you would expect with all Barbirra productions.
There was some good creative direction from Rachel Buckley with and
clever use of the minimalist set which was enhanced by the colours
used in the lighting, costumes and setting by Katherine Branch, as
each act had a different colour theme with a black base - Act 1 was
gold and black, Act 2 was green, purple and black and Act 3 was red
and black
However, there was some masking at times, throughout the
performance. The choreography was well executed, but I felt there
was more opportunity for some very experienced dancers really strut
their stuff, to some really vibrant exciting musical moments. The
dance scene with the Giselle and “The Can Can” was the highlight
chorographical moments.
Costumes were fantastic and really represented the period of the
show. The frocks that The Merry Widow – Anna wore were just amazing,
as you would expect for an extremely wealthy women of the time,
especially the jewels. The costumes for the rest of the cast were a
mixture of black and another colour to match the set.
Once again Jason Bovaird’s lighting design didn’t disappoint
theatregoers, the overall design and concept was solid and enhanced
the colour scheme of each act and this standard of lighting followed
through with all three acts. The opening ballroom scene with the use
of footlights to silhouette the dancing onto the cyclorama was
fantastic. In Act 2 the garden scene there was a mixture of purples
and greens and the use of a leadlight rotunda with lights inside
really captured the dalliances that were the thread of the story
line (I heard a few wows in the audience), The third act - Maxims
the sultry night club was a visual masterpiece of reds and flashing
lights. Well done, Jason.
Sound was a little disappointing at times as there were no mikes
used. It was great to see the directing team take us back to the
origins of theatre where actors had to use the art of projection.
This worked well for some and not for others. You could really see
who were the experienced and strong singers and performers because
we could hear them in the back row.
Carmella De losinno who played Anna – The Merry Widow of the title
had a lovely strong voice that could fill the entire auditorium of
the Whitehorse Centre and did so with absolute flair and pizzazz.
She was elegant, confident and really commanded the stage as the
leading lady of the show, what a find for Barbirra. As to was Jaison
Hoernel who played the role of Danilo, his experience on stage was
evident, he too commanded the stage and his timing and diction
without a mike couldn’t be faulted. The duet between him and Anna –
Love Unspoken, was absolutely amazing.
The supporting leads Joanna Pactos and Adam Bianco had good
projection and timing and held their own, and were a pleasure to
watch.
I
must make mention of Richard Burman who had me entranced with his
comic timing, and his ability to keep the moment anchored, he is
obviously an experienced actor.
The musical director Matthew Toogood did a great job of holding the
huge orchestra together and working the levels of the orchestra to
an un-miked cast, (so often the orchestra drowns out the singers)
mostly this was not the case with this show. Well done Matthew
There were many other “stand out” performances, all in all a job
well done by all. If you like Operettas then make the trip to the
Whitehorse Centre to see “The Merry Widow”.
Craig is well known in Musical Theatre circles and has over 20 yrs
experience in professional and non – professional theatre. He has
directed over 20 musicals for various companies, numerous cabaret
shows and plays, his highlight shows include; Grease, Sound Of
Music, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Anything Goes and Guys & Dolls - 3 times. He directed and adapted
the script for the premiere production of Priscilla, Queen of the
Desert for Camberwell Theatre Company. He recently returned to the
stage as an actor playing Walt Waldowski for the Australasian
premiere of M*A*S*H for PTC and is co-directing the upcoming
September production of The Full Monty. He is member of the
management committee for Music Theatre Guild and is the current Vice
President of the Lyrebirds Awards and will be co-directing the next
awards ceremony. |