Theatre review: The Magic Flute at King's Head Theatre
PUTTING on a Mozart opera in the back room of a pub is a daunting task but Charles Court Opera have risen magnificently to the challenge and come up with a truly magical Magic Flute.
The director, John Savournin, has an impressive track record, both as director and performer, in Gilbert & Sullivan productions, so has had a good deal of practice in being creatively silly, but this joyous opera at the King’s Head must be his most glorious production yet.
First, there is the set, which in a brilliant stroke of lunacy, he decided should mimic the Brazilian jungle, so the audience is whisked from an islington pub directly into a room festooned with leaves and vines. Then there is the deliciously free translation from German to English by the director and the pianist David Eaton which, for once, takes full opportunity of the chance to make it even funnier than the original.
With Robin Bailey portraying the original noble prince Tamino as an English explorer, and Matthew Ward turning the sinister Monostatos into an evil, pith-helmeted, gun-toting British imperialist, every character is moved one notch up the scale of pure fun and the audience loved it.
Putting on such an opera in a tiny venue that seats only around 100 at a squeeze demands cutting the cast numbers dramatically, using an upright piano instead of full orchestra, having the singers double up on roles and keeping the piece at a length acceptable to all concerned. There is also the problem of paying the singers what they deserve from the revenue produced by such small audiences even when it is a sell-out crowd.
Taking all these things together, they have done a magnificent job. The young cast are among the best of recent graduates from the finest music colleges and even if their acting and singing is not yet at the amazingly high standards of the Royal Opera, any deficiencies are made up for by sheer enthusiasm.
There was an apology before the start that Emily Jane Thomas as Pamina had been ill over the past few days but had gallantly agreed to perform that night, but she then came out and sang quite beautifully.
Funniest of all, however, was Matthew Kellett, whose portrayal of the cowardly bird-catcher Papageno was gloriously silly.
Hannah Sawle sang the hugely tricky arias of the Queen of the Night with great verve, and with her Three Ladies also appearing as the disciples of Sarastro and the three boys who pop up occasionally to help Tamino and Papageno, and also handle puppets of singing snakes and birds to add a splendid tone of surreal humour, the cast and John Savournin have really given us a Magic Flute to savour.
Whether you are a seasoned opera-goer looking for something a little different this is a real treat; if you have never been to an opera before, this would be a glorious way to start.
Tickets: kingsheadtheatre.com or 020 7226 8561 (in production until June 3).