The Merry Widow

Company: Opera Queensland
Venues & dates: To 21 August 2010 - see details at the end of the review

I love a bit of froth and bubble in the theatre, and there’s plenty of that in Franz Lehar’s operetta The Merry Widow, now nicely described as a “frock opera”. There are also beautiful women, marvellous costumes, sumptuous settings, romance, and infidelities.

The show is based on a true story. After World War I, Europe saw the map lines changed and many of the Balkan states found themselves in dire financial straits. One of them, Pontevedro was close to bankruptcy until a Hungarian financier called Gawari saved the country by selling postage stamps of all things. He made millions and then fell in love with a farmer’s daughter called Hanna. They married and then he died suddenly leaving her a fortune of $20 million. That’s where the story of the operetta starts.

It is set in Paris, where the young and pretty Hanna is visiting. Word of her fortune has quickly got around and every impoverished old generals and minor royals are clambering for her hand in marriage. Hanna is shrewd though and knows exactly what is going on. The Pontevedrian ambassador Baron Mirko Zeta is terrified that she might marry a Frenchman because he wants to keep her money in his country to stave off bankruptcy. He enlists the help of a embassy’s first secretary Count Danilo Danilowitsch, a delightfully decedent man about town, who wallows in pink champagne and showgirls from Maxim’s night club, to win her over. Not a problem says the count, until he discovers who the target is. He and Hanna have a history and he’s scared of commitment.

It’s a bubbly new production and is great fun. There are lots of toe tapping tunes and some clever choreography as well and even the Grisettes, the dancing girls from Maxim’s turned a fair hoof. Mind you, it was a dance routine from the men that stole the night. Seven of them were singing a lively song bemoaning the frustrations that women cause and then break into a dance. It was the funniest Can-Can you’ll ever see and these elderly, portly fellows linked arms and high kicked in true chorus girl fashion.

It was hysterical to watch – especially when they danced off only to return for an encore. There were excellent comic performances from the rival suitors sung by Shaun brown, David Kidd, Steven beck and Paul Darveniza. Jason Barry-Smith is perfect as the Count and when he works with Antoinette Halloran as Hanna the widow there’s a real rapport going on. In fact this is perfectly cast show with top voices and some pretty good comedy acting. I really enjoyed Geoffrey Harris as the naive old Baron who had no idea his wife Valencienne was getting ready for an affair with one of his mates, Camille de Rosillon. His secretary Njegus, a moustachioed villain who is almost a del arte character was also terrific. It was hilarious stuff from Virgillo Marino.

Of course there is a lot of philandering between the bachelor suitors and other men’s wives and the women are exactly innocent either. These situations add enormously to the fun. Two of the best are Sarah Crane as Valencienne and Bradley Daly as Camille. They sang a couple of happy duets and kept us all amused by playing innocent before the Baron.

The Merry Widow might be familiar now, but she is always a pleasure to meet and there are disappointments in this production. It continues at the Conservatorium, Theatre, South Bank until July 31 before going a tour of Queensland.

Brisbane bookings: QTIX 136 246.
Queensland tour dates and booking numbers are: Gold Coast Sunday, 8 August - Arts Centre Gold Coast: tickets: 5588-4000
Toowoomba Tuesday, 10 August - Empire Theatre, Toowoomba: tickets: 1300-655-299
Maryborough Thursday, 12 August - The Brolga Theatre: tickets: 4122-6060
Gladstone Saturday, 14 August - Gladstone Entertainment Centre: tickets: 4972-2822
Rockhampton Tuesday, 17 August - Pilbeam Theatre: tickets: 4927-4111
Mackay Thursday, 19 August - Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre: tickets: 4961-9777
Townsville Saturday, 21 August - Townsville Civic Theatre: tickets: 4727-9797.

Eric Scott

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