Opera Otago is presenting a night of light operatic entertainment, staging two comic operettas billed as Crossroads.
Their season opened last night in Mosgiel, and after a matinee there today, will move on to perform in Gore, before closing in Dunedin at Mayfair Theatre next weekend.
Crossroads are where people meet and decisions are made, and the plots of both operettas are influenced by choices along the way.
Although nowhere near the full house these works deserved, the first-night audience certainly enjoyed a good chuckle, appreciating a talented cast abounding with youthful enthusiasm and a determination for success.
Excellent acting, astute timing and fine singing with impressive balance in trios and duets resulted in great characterisation of every role.
Both operettas are directed by John Drummond, with production manager Vickie Cross and piano accompaniment by musical director Jonathan Drummond. Brenda Rendall (wardrobe) dressed all with great attention to colour co-ordination and detail.
Mr Polly at the Potwell Inn (1997) by John Drummond (Dunedin) and librettist Jeremy Commons (Wellington) is based on an episode from a novel by H. G. Wells.
A light-hearted ''short story'' is played out by three characters: obliging wayfarer of no fixed abode Mr Polly (Matt Landreth) and troubled landlady Mrs Perks (Bianca Andrews) who is bullied by her nephew Jim (Andrew Grenon), a manipulating nasty piece of work.
Imaginative piano scoring matches the changing dramatic situations, rather like in an old silent movie.
Ticket Sixty-Six a delightful musical farce (1856) by French composer Jacques Offenbach, is a comedy of events in the lives of Gretchen (Andrews), her not-so-bright boyfriend Franz (Landreth) and a pedlar named Joseph Berthold (Grenon).
The trio absolutely revelled in the humour of the spoken text and strong confident vocals throughout, making for a highly entertaining performance of this miniature operatic gem.
Crossroads
Opera Otago
Coronation Hall, Mosgiel
Friday, November 15
- Elizabeth Bouman.
