As always, the doyenne of SALOS, Pam Tucker, has produced a show bursting with “wine women and song.” Her production evokes the fun, delight and memorable music of Johann Strauss the Younger and the Older, selected and arranged by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Julius Bittner, in Nineteenth Century Vienna.
Concisely, the plot is based on the historical difficulties that Strauss Senior has with his son’s desire to emulate him and become a professional musician. The trouble is Johann Senior thinks little of his son’s ability as a composer. Throughout the show, there are of course several love complications which are resolved by the final curtain.
Under the assured baton of musical director Helen Loveday, the eight piece musical ensemble works well, with just the occasional stumble.
All cast did well but it is impossible to name the work of every performer, though four are standouts. First, the wonderful, experienced Greg Paterson with his rich bass baritone voice, provided a memorably comic performance as the confectioner Ebeseder.
Equally impressive is Danielle Ruggiero-Prior (Countess Olga Baranskaya) whose performance and lovely mezzo voice were features in this show and Claire Langsford (Mitzi) sang and performed her role with tremendous skill and energy. Christian Evans (Strauss the Younger) gathered confidence as the show progressed.
Others to do well were Chris Stansfield, Katrin Treloar and Andrew Trestrail
The dancing scene with Pamela and David Roberts was a charmer, but
above all, is the wondrous music of Father and Son,Strauss.
