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★★★★
English Touring Opera is currently taking shows to venues across the UK and this week they were at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury for two performances, presenting both Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and Gilbert & Sullivan’s last great success ‘The Gondoliers’. I was fortunate enough to watch the latter on stage on Saturday evening, marking my third opera at the venue. Touring opera brings the art form to regional venues around the country and this was my first time getting to experience one of the company’s productions. Sung in English with English surtitles, I found this to be an incredibly accessible production that would certainly appeal to newcomers to opera, thanks to the straightforward, amusing narrative and lively score.
About the show
Gilbert & Sullivan’s comedy follows two gondoliers in Venice: Marco (Robin Bailey) and Giuseppe Palmieri (Samuel Pantcheff), who suddenly find out that one of them is the heir to the Baratarian throne. Considered a real catch by the farm girls in Venice, they have both recently married and this big news throws their lives into disarray. Inheriting the throne also means that that one of them would automatically be married to Casilda (Kelli-Ann Masterson), the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro, who was married to the heir at 6 months old. These foundations create a very amusing 2 hours 30 minutes of theatre that sees the gondoliers navigate the aftermath of this revelation.
Visual elements and set design
First of all, I was immediately impressed by how much English Touring Opera made their mark on the venue, from the opening up of the orchestral pit to the traditional show curtain and the rotating screens positioned either side of the stage. The set is encompassed within a frame, which is smaller than the theatre’s actual stage, and whilst visually it helps reframe the Marlowe as an opera venue, at times audience members can miss some of the action. If anything, I’d have liked to have seen this be slightly scaled up, so that the set pieces on either side are completely visible. That being said, the extravagant set design (Michael Pavelka), vibrant costume design (Laura Jane Stanfield), impressive wigs, hair and make-up completely blew me away. Audiences are really transported into this opulent 18th-century world, which comes alive in bright colours and ornate fashion.
Choreography and music
I can’t review this production without talking about the strength of director Liam Steel’s choreography. From the effortless movements to the precision of the blocking, the era-appropriate dance sequences are a highlight of the piece, notably ‘Dance a Cachucha’. The company members also look like they are really enjoying themselves on stage and this makes such a difference to the overall energy of the choreography.
Additionally, it goes without saying that the score is highly dynamic, and the playful combination of the orchestra and the vocalists keeps the material light-hearted, comedic and melodramatic. The sensationally talented Phoebe Smith is a standout here, bringing such elegant and uplifting vocals to the role of Gianetta. My only comment would be that the combination of no microphones and vast amounts of movement on stage sometimes means that you can’t always hear every line of the singing. A little more consideration to projection throughout the venue would improve the experience for anyone sitting on the upper floors.
Opera for everyone
I left the venue feeling incredibly elated and this is down to both the hilarity of the piece and the energy that the company brings to the performance. It really made me reflect on how fun opera can be and I look forward to watching another Gilbert & Sullivan show in the future. ‘The Gondoliers’ was at the venue for one night only, but two more English Touring Opera shows are planned for April 2027. Tickets can be purchased via the venue’s website.
*My ticket for ‘Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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