Theatre Review

Eleanor Pearson
29 September 2015

Take a sparkling ensemble cast…and you’ll be satisfied

When the curtains went up on Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Sydney’s The Gondoliers it was like a Venetian spring had arrived.
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Photography by Ray Wing Lun
At least 20 young (and not so young) maidens graced the Smith Auditorium stage, wearing white, blousy, peasant dresses, and bearing red and white roses, and colourful ribbons. Behind them a stunning painted Venice canal vista ably set the scene. Enter the randy young (and not so young) gondolier men who would try to court said-belles. It was a strong start, in particular for soloist Johanne Perera (Antonio) who went on to deliver a confident and charismatic performance.

The Gondoliers
With the grand entrance of the Duke of Plaza-Toro and entourage there was humour in typical operetta style, but I wanted more of the witty, wicked sparring between the Duke and Duchess that happened later in Act Two.
As Grand Inquisitor, Anthony Mason indeed resembled an undertaker (perhaps owing much to his splendid black costume) and brought a dark wit when the mood threatened to become too frivolous. His catch-phrase:“Bless my heart, how extremely awkward!” (Which was delivered as a massive understatement with sinister overtones) drew an audience response without fail.
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Photography by Ray Wing Lun
The Gondoliers was Gilbert and Sullivan’s twelfth opera together. It has all the trimmings: political satire, romance, more romance, chorus singing and large ensemble dance numbers, including the Spanish-flavoured cachucha in Act Two, which was a highlight of this production.
In Act Two, the sets and costumes again had a wow-factor. So too did the performances. The leading actors (especially Tristan Entwistle as Giuseppe) owned the stage, and the energy level of the entire cast picked up a notch, and so by the end of the show, after much laughter and applause, the crowd didn’t want it to end. A candid-camera moment caught the assembled cast off-guard when the curtain rose again unexpectedly due to continuing enthusiastic applause.
In this production, leading lady Stephanie Jennifer Poropat (Casilda) also won over audiences with her clear soprano voice. Dean Sinclair as the Duke of Plaza-Toro raised the bar in Act Two, making a resplendent entrance in gleaming gold leggings, with the appropriate level of attitude to pull it off:
“Take my daughter and may she make you happier than her mother has made me…if possible.”
In feathers, wig and multiple frills his “shady” lady Duchess (Catherine Bulfin) also made the most of her comedic role.

Playing until October 3, 2015
Address:  Smith Auditorium Lyric Theatre, Blue Street, North Sydney NSW 2060
See the Preview for The Gondoliers Here