Opera review: The Elixir of Love
JONATHAN Miller never disappoints when bringing his directorial skills to a comic opera, but rarely has he put together a production of such sublime humour as this glorious reworking and updating of Donizetti's Elisir D'Amore.
The original opera was set in the 18th century in the Basque Country and told the tale of a hapless romantic trying to win the girl he loves by using a love potion supplied by a alchemist. Miller moves the tale to 1950s America, with the alchemist replaced by a quack doctor snake-oil salesman.
Unlike so many attempts to update operas, this one really works, thanks to a lovely translation, amounting almost to a complete re-write, by Kelly Rourke and colourful sets by Isabella Bywater, all of which add to Miller's vision.
With Sarah Tynan as the Monroesque Adina and Benedict Nelson swaggering splendidly as GI sergeant Belcore, this production is also a triumph for the ENO Young Singers progamme through which both singers have passed, but the highest accolades must go to Ben Johnson as the dimwitted, lovestuck Nemorino and Andrew Shore as the potion-peddling Dr Dulcamara.
Shore won awards for his performance when Miller's production first appeared last year, and has since then impressed in a variety of roles, but Dulcamara really gives him the opportunity to indulge his comic timing and acting abilities as well as a fine voice.
Ben Johnson also added to his rapidly growing reputation with a beautifully judged performance. His change in character as the supposed elixir gives him a new confidence and nonchalance is deliciously and very comically portrayed, and his fine, strong voice marks him out as one of the most promising tenors on the British stage today.
Compared with last year's production, I thought that the chemistry (or alchemy) between the leading singers was less convincing this time, though that may have been because I had seen it before and it all came as less of a glorious surprise. And the audience once again left the theatre wreathed in smiles.
As a great comic opera should be, this is definitely the best musical in town.
English National Opera
London Coliseum
www.eno.org or 0871 911 0200
Verdict 4/5