Reviewed by Fran Edwards
May 2011
This story of Cossacks, Ballet Dancers and revolution is set in Paris after the First World War initially, but most of the action is in a flash back to the time of the Russian Revolution. I know this because I read the program, not from watching the show!
The score has some pretty tunes and the script some clever lines, but on the whole this show is out dated and too long, which explains why I have not previously seen a production.
As always with this company the choral work was nice, and there were some well sung solos and duets, but the overall production was much less than it should have been. The final straw for the audience was the interminable and noisy scene changes.
Bethany McAleer made a very pretty Lydia and with Hamish Anear (as Commander Peter Karagin) sang If the World Were Mine beautifully. Anear, as usual, stood out in the lead role carrying much of the action. Some bright spots were provided by Karin Marks as a loud mouthed American, Sandra Fameli as the Opera Mistress and of course Peter Potts as Nikki and Maria Geraghty as Masha who sang Nitchevo the most up-beat number in the show.
The costumes were colourful and for the most part appropriate, although the era wavered a bit, and some of the old favourites made an appearance, but there were some lovely dresses in the final scene. Lighting was functional and the singers were able to be heard. The music was mostly pleasant enough, presented by Peter Potts (MD), Helen Loveday (Conductor) and un-named musicians.
This would have been what die-hard SALOS fans expected, but the company will have to bring us something fresher, brighter and shorter if they hope to attract new audience members.
