3rd August
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The Gondoliers Carl Rosa Opera Company Opera House 2:30 & 7:30 pm We had seats B21 & B22 in the Dress Circle for this performance

This was one of the most "luxurious" performances of the Gondoliers I have seen.  The costumes were absolutely wonderful and the sets were magnificent.

The overture was played at quite a rapid pace.  Whilst listening to it we could see that the edge of the stage, where it meets the orchestra pit, had been turned into a canal with tying up poles and rubbing strips clearly visible.  Once the tabs were lifted there was a wonderful backcloth of a scene from Venice with a canal side landing at the rear of the stage.  The girls, all in magnificent period costume, were putting their flowers onto a huge rectangular framework which was suspended from the ceiling, as they sang a bright "List and Learn".  Lots of action was going on all over the stage - this proved to be characteristic of this production - it was full all the way through with movement and colour.  Good solos from the minor principals.

Marco and Giuseppe entered on a gondola from the canal at the rear - after disembarking one of them clicked his fingers and the gondola shot off again on its own - quite amusing.

Marco had a magnificent voice which came over clearly - enabling us to hear every word.  Giuseppe's singing was good but he did not have the diction and often his words were lost.  They both reacted well to what was going on around them.  How the girls loved them and great flirting took place.  An excellent duet "We're called gondolieri" was followed by great fun as they chose their brides by "peeping" through the blindfolds.  They had good fun as they suggested a swap - much to the disgust of the girls.

The whole chorus excelled as they sang "Thank you gallant gondolieri" making wonderful patterns as they moved across the stage.  The dancing and general stage work from this company is to be praised - it was constantly of the highest standard.

The gondola returned - this time carrying the Duke, Duchess, Casilda and Luiz.  They were very poorly after their journey.  They were delightfully dressed in shabby, but once expensive clothing which indicated their lack of finance!  A good opening number followed by much business as Luiz is reprimanded for not kneeling.  They also have good fun ringing the bell - which was a huge rope which had been lowered from above.  The first time it is just a normal electric bell - the second time a huge sound from the gong in the orchestra pit.

A sparkling "In enterprise of martial sound" demonstrated how well this quartet worked together. Casilda was a wonderful actress - she had such an expressive face and a superb voice.  The duet between Casilda and Luiz "Ah, well-beloved" was most moving.  Casilda explained to Luiz about the fact that she had been married as a baby to the infant son of the King of Barataria - they had a delightful scene together, culminating in a beautifully sung "There was a time"

Don Alhambra comes on - what a sinister character he is - dressed in a long black leather coat and carrying a cane.  After the dialogue we had a great "I stole the Prince.."  I could not believe the difference between the was in which this actor performed tonight when compared with his role as the sergeant of police last night. He was magnificent and his voice came over clearly with excellent diction.  This was followed by a fine quintet "Try we life-long.."

All exit except Don Alhambra who uses his magical influence to convert the scene into a church.  He waves his wand and a large red drape with a crucifix drops down at the rear of the stage - his two henchmen pull out a long red carpet strip from under the steps to the dock - they also place a table near to the front of the stage - Marco, Gianetta, Giuseppe and Tessa enter following a priest.  As Tessa sings "When a merry maiden marries" the priest marries both couples and the sign the register.  A nice touch this.  At the end of the song Don Alhambra again uses his magic to transform the scene back to the outside - the carpet zooming off at great speed under the steps.

Don Alhambra explains that they have to go to Barataria as soon as possible - without their new wives.  Gianetta sings a moving "Kind Sir.."

Great fun is had as they sing "Then one of us will be a queen"  The chorus returns and they are told that Marco and Giuseppe will be king but will act "As one individual" They offer jobs to all the men and as they prepare to go Gianetta and Tessa sing "Now, Marco dear"  A different boat, with a sail, appears at the rear of the stage - Marco and Giuseppe get aboard and then as the chorus sing "Then away.."  the lights dim and the female chorus bring a large blue cloth to the front of the stage to represent the sea - at about waist height.  They slowly sink down below this to represent the ship going over the horizon and, once they have disappeared, a small model of the ship is passed from one side of the stage to the other along the top of the blue cloth - very clever!

Act two opens to a beach scene which take up about half the depth of the stage.  The courtiers are all in swimming costumes and the kings are serving them drinks.  A good opening chorus and dialogue which included a very broad northern shop-steward was  followed by Giuseppe singing "Rising early in the morning"

The chorus went off leaving Marco and Giuseppe in their deck-chairs. Marco sang a wonderful rendition of "Take a pair of sparkling eyes"  The girls all return - now in more summery dresses and explain how they could not wait so here they are!  This all leads up to an exciting "Dance a cachucha" - what activity took place in this - full of energy and again excellent direction.  I still can not get over the Wayne Sleep type actor in the chorus who was so active and wonderful - especially whilst dancing.

Don Alhambra returns to find out what is going on.  He does not find the activities to his taste and explains why in a well delivered "There lived a King.."  Don Alhambra is explaining the situation about the marriage to Casilda and is overheard by Gianetta and Tessa.  This leads into a well sung quartet "In a contemplative fashion.."  Sung again - in deck chairs.

At the end of this song there is a wonderful scene transformation. The lights go out and then when they come on again we are in a magnificent palace - all the cast are in wonderful costumes - the men in elegant dress suits and the ladies in wonderful period ball gowns - the men are all carrying standards and the process on with great pomp and dignity.

The Duke, Duchess and Casilda are also now in magnificent costumes due to him coming into money.  Casilda is still not happy with the situation due to her love for Luiz.  The Duchess sings a great solo "On the day that I was wedded" followed by the duet with the Duke "Small titles and orders"

Marco and Giuseppe return to the stage and are taught, by the Duke, the skills required to deal with courtiers.  Most amusing scene.

The finale starts with the quintet "Here is a case unprecedented"  Don Alhambra asks Inez and she reveals that it is in fact Luiz who is the King! The whole company sparkles as the final cachucha bursts forth.

Casilda and Luiz

Marco, Gianetta, Tessa, and Giuseppe

Marco was played by "our own" Nick Sales - excellent as usual.

The Duchess, the Duke and The Grand Inquisitor - with Peter Mulloy at the front.

An excellent production - I did like the way in which Don Alhambra was so sinister - and how he was involved much more than usual - often found at the back of the stage directing the actions of others in a magical and mysterious manner.  I felt that Tessa was below par - particularly during the first act - also I did find the words of Giuseppe difficult to hear during his songs - his spoken dialogue was fine.  The chorus were magnificent and the costumes and set were both wonderful

No club - we returned to Susan and Gordon's caravan for a quiet evening of wine and nibbles - a most pleasant change from the club.