Aug 4th 05

Thu 4th	10.30am	In Conversation with Michael Rayner	Paxton Theatre
	2.30pm	David Russell Hulme discusses Sullivan's Savoy Opera music	Paxton Theatre
	7.30pm	The Grand Duke, Blue Hill Troupe, New York	Opera House
	10.30pm	Late Night Festival Club and Entertainment	Pavilion Lounge

The tabs were already lifted when we entered the theatre to expose a delightful scene of a Bavarian type mountain top village of Speisaal in the Grand Duchy of Pfennig Halbpfennig. This attracted much attention and discussion. The orchestra struck up the overture in a lively manner and we were also treated to a PowerPoint display on the front flat to indicate the location of the country, the characters and the plot. This was cleverly done and caused much merriment in the audience.

The flat was lifted to reveal a delightfully painted scene showing the town square where the resident theatrical troupe were preparing for the wedding of the leading man, Ludwig and the soubrette Lisa. These two actors were superb - full of enthusiasm with excellent singing voices and clear diction. The company was also preparing to put on Troilus and Cressida that evening. However, the Grand Duke, who is hated by all the townsfolk, has taken over all the clergy for his own wedding so the ceremony between Ludwig and Lisa can not take place until later. The company all sang an excellent "Won't it be a pretty wedding?"

All the chorus and principals were in excellent costumes and they all moved about the stage with confidence and attention to what was going on. A good duet between Ludwig and Lisa "Pretty Lisa" The Company Manager, Ernest Dummkopf, enters. He is very smart and has a good clear voice - he is plotting, along with the rest of the company, to take over the from the Grand Duke, but meanwhile, to keep their plans secret they use the eating of a sausage roll as a sign that they are conspirators. The sausage rolls are not very good and make most of the cast feel ill as they sing "By the mystic regulation".

Once he is Grand Duke, Ernest hopes that Julia Jellicoe, the companies "English" comedienne will want to marry him. To show that she is English she sings and talks with a German accent - all the rest of the company of course have perfect English accents! Julia agrees but only if she can marry as if she were playing a part in a play - they sing "How would I play this part?"

The company return - all fuming with Ludwig, who has blurted out the plans of the overthrow to none other than the Dukes personal detective - his defence is that the man ate three sausage rolls. Great fun is had here as they all sing ""My Goodness me"

The company solicitor has an idea - they could fight a statutory duel - both are aghast at this but he explains that there is no pain or danger - it just means that they draw cards - the highest takes on all the responsibilities of the looser who is declared legally dead - confused? you will be! The notary has an excellent voice with the clear diction needed to get over this part of the plot. The idea is that the winner will go go to the Grand Duke and blame the loser for the plot - as the latter is legally dead he can not be prosecuted and the former will be pardoned for exposing him. The law will end tomorrow so everything will then return back to where it is now. Ludwig draws and ace which beats Ernest's King. Good singing in the Quintets "Strange the views" and " Now take a card"

The stage is cleared and then the Chamberlains enter followed by the Grand Duke - another excellent performer who plays the part of a mean despot very well. He shows his power over the chamberlains by getting them to pass his snuff box and then his handkerchief down the whole line. The Baroness enters - she is super - very haughty but with the same miserly streak which runs through the Duke. They talk about the forthcoming marriage and how they will save money with an excellent rendition of the duet "As O'er our Penny Roll we Sing" The baroness has brought him the report from the detective and on reading it the Grand Duke realises that he is in great danger and falls to the floor bemoaning his fate.

Ludwig now enters, ready to carry out the plan of blaming Ernest but on talking to the Grand Duke he realises that there is a better plan and he explains to the Grand Duke that is he fought a Statutory Duel then he would not be in danger as Ludwig would be the Duke for the day and take the risks - they plot how to make sure the Duke is the loser and then call the townsfolk into the square.

They have a little fight and then the challenge is made and Ludwig wins (both have the cards up their sleeves) Ludwig now explains the second part of his plan - he gets the notary to draw up a renewal of the law which he, as Grand Duke, signs making it active for another 100 years. All the company rejoice over this until Julia returns and states that as leading lady she should marry the Duke! Lisa is distraught and sings a moving duet with Julia "Oh, listen to me dear" followed by her solo "The die is cast". The rest of the company are on a high as they bring the act to an exciting close with the prospect of turning the country into a copy of a Greek State singing "For this will be a Jolly Court"

The cast at the curtain call - the delightful interior of the Palace set is clearly visible.

At the start of act two we have an update via the PowerPoint presentation - again most humourous. As the flat is lifted we see the interior of a Grand Palace. All the cast are now bedecked in the robes from Troilus and Cressida - long flowing white robes. Ludwig is especially smart with his flowing white wig, sword and breast plate. The chorus sing a sparkling "As before you we defile" Ludwig and Julia are now married - Julia has staked her claim as leading lady and Lisa gives up and sings a very moving "Take care of him".

Julia takes her bow with Ernest, Baroness Von Krakenfeldt and The Princess of Monte Carlo

Ludwig and Julia sing the duet "Now Julia, come, consider it" when they try to decide how she should play the part of his wife. Their ideas are very different - he wants her to be "A timid and Tender, feminine gender" and she is determined to be "Hard as the millstone" - no prizes for guessing who wins this little discussion! The Baroness storms in determined to find out why the Duke has not turned up for their marriage - as soon as she finds out what has happened she takes over as the new Duchess as she had a previous claim - much to the chagrin of Julia who sings a wonderful recitative and solo "So ends my dream" and "All is darksome"

Ernest returns to the stage - much to the shock of both Lisa and later Julia, both of whom think he is a ghost! and run off. When the Grand Duke joins Ernest they plot to overthrow Ludwig. The herald from the Prince of Monte Carlo arrives - and announces that the prince has arrived with the song "The Prince of Monte Carlo". To explain a bit more of the plot, his daughter, the Princess of Monte Carlo, was betrothed in infancy to the Grand Duke - but she had to be in the Duchy before he 21st birthday - until now they had not been able to come as the Price owed so much money that he dare not leave his house!

The prince enters with his six supernumeraries and a very camp costumier. (Gregory Peterson)

They sing "We're rigged out in magnificent array". Ludwig had planned to get rid of them by a wild free-for-all which is very well staged and frenetic - but has little influence on the Prince. He explains how he is now very rich by inventing roulette and sings and explains all in the song "Take my advice.." I must admit I was disappointed in the Prince - he was just dressed in black evening clothes - I would have expected something much more flamboyant - also from his daughter.

The Prince breaks the news that his daughter, the Princess has the best claim on Ludwig as they were betrothed as infants, so he gets his fourth wife! Ernest and the Duke, along with the notary return - they have bad news for Ludwig - according to the law book the ace is LOW in a statutory duel so he lost both! The Duke takes over again and accepts the rich Princess of Monte Carlo as his bride, The Prince takes on the Baroness, Julia goes back to Ernest and Ludwig can now return to his true love, Lisa.

Overall a very good production of a difficult opera. The costumes were super, the sets clear and functional. The lighting was subtle, enhancing areas as appropriate. The musical direction was excellent, never allowing the orchestra to dominate. The Chorus was great as were the principals, with Ludwig and Julia outstanding. Ludwig well deserved his award as Best Male Actor for this performance! This company has such strength in depth that they were able to put in seven different principals for the matinee performance on Saturday afternoon.