THE MAGIC FLUTE.
London.
THE MAGIC FLUTE
music by W A Mozart words by E Schikaneder adapted by Mark Dornford-May.
Duke of York's Theatre (transfer from Young Vic)
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm (no performance 25 Feb, 10, 24 March, 7 April).
Runs 2hr 25min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 060 6623.
www.magicflutethe musical.com (£3 transaction fee by 'phone & online).
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 November at Young Vic.
Magical and magnificent.
Mozart on marimbas. A band of them, under conductor Mandisi Dyantyis. Played by people who smile. And dance. And act. If Impempe Yomlingo, or ‘The Magic Flute’, doesn’t make you want to give up Covent Garden entirely, it certainly won’t have you reaching for your ENOs. And if Mozart’s spinning in his grave, it’ll be because he’s dancing along.
After an Overture whose lighter tones sound especially delightful on the instruments, there’s singing stronger than many musical stages in this country offer. And this company don’t need to be strapped up to microphones to reach out round the auditorium.
Then there’s Pauline Malefane’s Queen of the Night, a short role with high notes. Incredibly high ones, and Malefane hits them more surely than some top opera company divas have managed. It would be enough to expect of anyone – let alone an actor who’s also playing Scrooge in this South African company’s other show, derived from Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
The Young Vic say this is suitable for 10+ (adults included), but younger-looking children seemed transfixed by the colour and activity of Mark Dornford-May’s production. Anyway, the Flute’s about as near to pantomime as opera gets: it opens with a dragon (here, massive leaping flames), has a magical queen, imprisoned princess and a cowardly birdcatcher as comic sidekick. And, of course, a magic flute, its sound equated here to a jazzy trumpet.
While relating the action to Xhosa rites-of-passage, Dornford-May plays up the pantomimic, as a bunch of toughs prance gently under the influence of a magic music-box (its sound created by musical bottles tapped with spoons), or furrily pink-clad guides helping Tamino on his way.
Mozart’s music transforms the Flute. But the most sublime number is shared between the princess-heroine and the earthy Papageno. Here it’s accompanied by the rhythm of softly-clapped hands. It sounds ridiculous – no, it sounds absolutely lovely, even if it’s right without any obvious reason.
Whether playing Mozart straight, or infecting his music with South African rhythms, this never cheapens, always delights. With A Christmas Carol playing in repertoire, the Young Vic has imported a golden seasonal double.
Tamino: Mhlekazi Andy Moseia.
1st Spirit: Bongiwe Mapassa.
2nd Spirit: Lungelwa Mdekazi.
3rd Spirit: Tembisa Mlanjen.
Papageno: Zamile Gantana.
Queen of the Night: Pauline Malefane.
1st Spirit: Busisiwe Ngejane.
2nd Spirit: Poseletso Sejosingoe.
3rd Spirit: Noluthando Bogwana.
Monostatos/Comrade: Mzwandeli C Kambule/Malungisa Balintulo.
Pamina: Philisa Sibeko.
Priest: Zebulon K Mmusi.
Sarastro: Simphiwe Mayeki.
Priest: Luthando Mthi.
Papagena/Spirit/Comrade: Thozamo Mdliva.
Comrades: Sonwabo Ntshata, Sibusiso Matxhikiza, Fikile Thani, Clyde Berning, Luvo Rasemeni, Xolani Momo, Khanyiso Gwenxane, Nolufefe Mtshabe.
Conductor/Comrade: Mandisi Dyantsis.
Spirits/Comrades: Siyanda Ncobo, Asanda Ndlwana, Mbali Kgosidintsi, Zanele Gracious Mbatha, Thomakazi Holland.
Director: Mark Dornford-May
Lighting: Mannie Manim.
Choreographer: Lungelo Ngamlana.
Costume: Leigh Bishop, Annamarie Seegers.
Music coach: Albert Combrink.
Voice coach: Lesley Manim.
Assistant directors: Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, Gbolahan Obisesan.
2007-12-01 11:34:00