THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS. To 17 December.
London
THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS
book by Frederick Lonsdale music by H Fraser Simpson and James W Tate lyrics by Harry Graham, F Clifford Harris and Valentine
Finborough Theatre 118 Finborough Road SW10 9ED To 17 December 2006
8pm
Runs 2hr 40min Two intervals
TICKETS: 0870 400 838
www.finboroughtheatre.com (no booking fee; discount for online bookings)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 10 December
Such flimsy whimsy really needs full-blown canvas scenery and room to swirl a cape; bur, lacking all that, this will more than do.
This was one for the troops; a 1916 West End musical with romantic brigands and beautiful young women, plus an inefficient General who might have reminded many of those on leave from the trenches of their chiefs fuming at the front without making any progress towards capturing the enemy. What’s more, inefficient General Malona doesn’t have to be saluted. In David Dorrian’s resourceful semi-staging (with a resolute band of 3 on a tiny stage laid out for the Finborough’s current Coward production), the General’s pointedly ignored by those who despise him. That is, just about everyone.
But Maid was no satire, rather an escapist route into Ruritania. Its story is by Frederick Lonsdale, the society playwright who’d begun his career by writing another Ruritanian musical in 1908. Fanciful swagger, bold characters and impossible senses of honour lead brigand-in-chief Baldasarre to risk his neck to rescue the titular Teresa, only to have her jealously reveal him to the powers-that-be after he’s fallen for another woman.
This musical comedy’s comedy comes from both the General and a (very) subplot involving Tonio and Vittoria, a husband-believed-drowned and his widow/wife. It all gives rise to 3 variedly comic performances, Alana Phillips’ gently romantic Vittoria, Christian Jon Billett’s cheerfully chancy Tonio and Sevan Stephan’s insistently irate General.
It’s Teresa who carries the emotional weight and who has the ultimate moral decision, by which time the plot has reduced itself to a silliness that might test even entertainment-hungry men on leave. Seeing that’s it’s never made entirely clear what this colourfully-dressed young woman with her high ideals and deep love is doing with the brigands (or, indeed, what she has been doing in their company, unless loving Baldasarre’s a full-time occupation), Anita Louise Combe carries off a lot with her bright manner and a face smiling or furrowed according to situation.
Graham Vick’s brigand makes less impact, having nothing to sing; the odd stanza coming his way is spoken rhythmically. Not something to give a musical comedy character hero-cred, especially when the oft-melodious Teresa has the pleasantly conventional score’s best number, ‘Love Will Find A Way’.
Carlo/Terroni: Robert Archibald
Beppo: Andy Mace
Andrea/Ruigini: Andrew Thwaite
Zacchi/Mayor: David Freedman
Pietro/Crumpet: Andrew Pepper
Tonio: Christian Jon Billett
Teresa: Anita Louise Combe
Baldasarre: Graham Vick
Angela: Elisabeth Baron
Vittoria: Alana Phillips
Gianetta: Laura Selwood
General Malona: Sevan Stephan
Director: David Dorrian
Musical Director: Russell Hepplewhite
Costume: Giulia Scrimieri
2006-12-13 01:07:55