Review from the GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO, Tues. 19th Feb. 2002

Bel Canto's Martha captivates the audience


"When two bored society ladies disguise themselves as maids for a lark and join hoi polloi at Richmond Fair they are just asking for trouble. Two bachelor farmers hire them, and insist that they honour their contract to work for them for a year.

Frankly, the girls are not cut out for domestic chores, but Lady Harriet (alias Martha) has other talents. When she serenades Lionel with The Last Rose of Summer to the gentle harp accompaniment of Jemima Phillips, he succumbs to her musical charms.

Flotow's opera is an engaging mixture of musical styles and full of singable melodies. This witty Bel Canto Opera production by Tom Boyd (who also translated the libretto and designed the highly effective sets), teems with vitality, and William Bell conducts with his customary verve.

Amanda Boyd Bailey in the title role captivates everyone with her fine voice, while Stephen Crook is everything a girl could hope for as the love-sick Lionel.

Stephen Wells is splendid as his half-brother (sic) Plunkett, whether singing the praises of English ale or showing the hapless ladies how to spin. And Susan Black is hilarious as Martha’s mischievous confidante.

Jayne Meekings’ colourful costumes, excellent chorus work and crisp, precise playing from the orchestra are three more good reasons why you should beat a path to see Martha when it opens at the Playhouse today and runs until Saturday"






Roger Jones - Gloucestershire ECHO