A delightful end to a wonderful G&S Festival!
Presented by: State Opera South Australia
Reviewed: 21 May, 2023
Over two weeks in May, State Opera South Australia presented a joyful celebration of WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s comic operas. On closing night, the G&S Fest utilised some of the vocal and orchestral talents amassed for their earlier productions, together with a unique chorus, for a small scale performance of an often forgotten classic: The Sorcerer.
The G&S Fest made the bold choice to have an open call for the chorus members of The Sorcerer. After months of work, the amateur choir is impressively rehearsed and articulate, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder across the stage and five rows deep.
The main cast are professional singers and do not allow the barren stage to subdue their performances. Their costumes are beautiful and detailed Victorian pieces, on-stage chemistry and choreography is delightful. Our hero Alexis (John Longmuir) is drunk with love over his new fiance Aline (Jessica Dean). Their respective parents Sir Marmaduke (Jeremy Tatchell) and Lady Sangazure (Cherie Boogaart) play off each other to beautiful comedic effect in their duet “Welcome joy, adieu to sadness!”
Alexis has the misguided idea of bewitching his neighbours so they fall in love at random, regardless of social class. He enlists the help of local sorcerer JW Wells (Aidan Hodder), and together they create well-intentioned mayhem. Hodder’s rendition of “My Name is John Wellington Wells” rivals the patter songs from the Major General of Penzance and Ko-Ko of Mikado.
All of Gilbert’s fanciful plots thinly veiled social satire. However, The Sorcerer has not aged well, becoming more outdated than politically incorrect. Thankfully the dialogue is as jovial and witticisms as esoteric as ever. Under the guidance of conductor James Pratt, the orchestra brings to life Sullivan’s glorious yet rarely heard score. The mirthful orchestra accompanies vocally challenging arias such as Ailine’s “Happy Young Heart.”
Given its limitations, The Sorcerer lends itself well to this restricted production. The cast and orchestra shine, while the chorus surprises and charms – a testament to the enduring popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan.
Reviewed by Nicola Woolford
Photo credit: ASB Creative Photography
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Season: Ended
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