Wanderlust Theatre's vision is to provide fun, affordable and accessible opera with comfortable running times. Last night they delivered on that promise at The Meteor with a double billing of The Don and These Are A Few Of My Favourite Sings. This double whammy about rascally Don Giovanni and heaven sent Julie Andrews told tales of love and obsession.
ACT 1 – THE DON
Devised and performed by Stuart Coats
Directed by Lyndee-Jane Rutherford
Why take on one role when quite frankly, you can be the entire cast? Stuart Coats did just that and provided a thoroughly entertaining rendition of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Coats contemporaneously performed the roles of Leporello, Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Commendatore, Don Ottavio and Donna Elvira.
When Coats convincingly portrayed two people having a sword fight, it became obvious that we were in for an utterly ridiculous and completely hilarious romp through Mozart’s masterpiece.
This two hundred and fifty-year old story of lust, murder and revenge had been condensed. The opera had been translated and was told with minimal props but maximum enthusiasm, wit, current references and surprisingly a puppet that was the spitting image of Coats himself.
By the end, the audience had been schooled in art of theatre sports and the opera. Coats’ expressions, mannerisms, accents were superb. His voice was magnificent, and there was no need for microphones in the black box theatre.
The Don was witty and refreshing and did not require any previous knowledge of the opera to appreciate the one man….or technically the three men, two women, one puppet and one statue show.
After the dastardly antics of that scoundrel Don Giovanni, only a cleansing by someone as pure as Julie Andrews would suffice.
ACT 2 – THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE SINGS
Written by Francesca Emms
Directed by Adam Macauley
Starring Georgia Jamieson Emms
Had my sister and I ever embarked on writing a musical, we could only have dreamed of it being as spectacular as the Emms sisters’ production These Are A Few Of My Favourite Sings.
Emms arrived onto the stage wearing a dirndl a la Maria from the Sound of Music. From the moment Emms mentioned her passion for costumes, musicals and her life long obsession for Julie Andrews, I was smitten. Emms generously shared aspects of her own life whilst weaving in the story of Andrews’ career.
Emms vocal delivery was sublime and like Stuart Coats she was ably accompanied by Mark Dorrell on a keyboard. A gifted story teller, Emms also danced and encouraged a sing-a-long to some of the tunes. These Are A Few Of My Favourite Sings included songs from Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. The performance appeared effortless and it was an absolute treat to be in her company in such an intimate setting.
This double billing was a charming night out, and to see such contrasting performances by two outstanding opera enthusiasts was marvelous.
Tickets start at $20 and are available at www.themeteor.co.nz or The Meteor box office.
PS. The encore of Edelweiss* was the purrfect* end to a whimsical and personal look into the lives of the Emms sisters and their extended family.
*Reviewer may or may not have a small and white, clean and bright cat named Edelweiss.
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