Association of Community Theatre

THE DESERT SONG

The Operetta Company

 

Director: Allen Christey-Casson

Musical Director: Robert Aston

Choreography: Jennifer Dagnall

 

Who is our audience? The Operetta Company IS fulfilling a gap in musical theatre by presenting a musical genre that has been long neglected, that of operetta. This company has proved that there is an audience for operetta by the evidence of its box office receipts. For the company’ eleventh season Sigmund Romberg’s romantic “Desert Song” was chosen to be presented.

 

Each year this company’s semi-staged productions have become “must see” events. The popularity of their productions is as a result of polished interpretations of the shows the presentations of which includes costumes, narration and dialogue.

 

Romberg’s romantic score was well interpreted by the MD and his orchestra. The staging created the scenes giving life to the simple plot. Choreography in the 20s style was added and performed by four enthusiastic dancers. The principals were costumed commensurate with their diverse characters.

 

Once again Irene Smith narrated, filling in the story as the action moved from location to location. As the story teller, Irene created much interest as she took the audience through the Moroccan story.

 

The chorus work, as well as the supporting roles, highlighted the storyline making way for the romance of The Red Shadow and Margot to develop. The Foreign Legion, under Captain Paul Fontaine, was played with vigour by Tony Meehan.

 

There was plenty of comic relief from Susan Bradley as Susan and Colin Magenty as Bennie. Colin, in particular, gave a performance in the style of the comics of variety theatre. Styling the humour this way meant that every line came naturally  without seeming, in any way, contrived.

 

The beautiful score has many vocal demands. Zack Thornley, as Sid El Kar, and Jean Forrester, as Clementina, gave convincing portrayals.

 

Clare Unsworth captivated the audience with her singing. No vocal hurdle was too high to achieve, whether it were a company number, a duet or a solo. Clare’s acting ability breathed life into the role of Margot.

 

From David Whitfield to John Hanson, there have been many notable Red Shadows. Not unlike the Scarlet Pimpernel, there is the foppish character who is also the daring hero.

 

Allen Christey-Casson as Pierre Birabeau, alias the Red Shadow, took centre stage. He showed s heroic swashbuckling hero and captured the romance of Romberg’s music.

 

This production never ran out of entertainment as it pleased the audience and will have secured ticket sales for the company’s next presentation, “The Gypsy Baron”.