THEATRE 
REVIEWS
One Touch of Venus
Grand Theatre Leeds
Leeds
ENGLAND
True sculpture lives
A good solid musical from an opera company. The singing is first rate, the orchestra has fun, the sets are inspirational, but the direction is wayward. Kurt Weill supplied the music and Ogden Nash pitched in with the lyrics to bring back a confused feel of the era. The story is simple; a barber puts a ring on the finger of a statue of Venus and she comes to life to play havoc with the feelings of two men. Have you heard it before? The mix is enough to give pleasure to an audience of opera lovers and let them go home well satisfied with their evening out at the theatre.
We have two first rate singers in the lead roles with Karen Coker as Venus and Loren Geeting as Rodney Hatch, the barber. Their voices blend in the harmonies that they experience together and they produce perfect diction to allow the audience to hear the story that they have to tell. They are ablely supported by Ron Li-Paz as art collector Whitelaw Savory and Christianne Tisdale as his secretary Molly Grant, though the former's diction is at times suspect. Eric Roberts has great fun with Dr Rook a whacky psychiatrist. They are lifted to their roles by the Opera North orchestra under the direction of James Holmes, whose musicians really enjoy the music. The chorus has some nice numbers to perform, with the "faceless mass" piece of particular interest. It would have been nice to see chorus and dancers integrated and not performing their own piece when required which results in singers standing still and dancers moving about.
Karen Coker encourages Loren Geeting
The set is at times inspirational taking its themes from Brillo pads, the painter Edward Hopper and the drawings showing Tintin. You will have to make the effort to see this musical to see how set designer Antony McDonald has used the objects of his inspiration. Whether director Tim Albery's use of curtains between scenes is what is required you will have to make your own mind up about, as well as the use of men to pull the scenery about. The one real no no was Lighting Designer Adam Silverman's prolonged use of strobe lighting facing the audience — what did those who suffer from migraine or fits think — the audience do not want to see the lighting equipment, it should be subtle and unobtrusive. Costume Designer Emma Ryatt has brought back the feel of the time, especially so with the blue dresses, but where were the girl's stockings?
To get back to the show, we had numerous memorable musical numbers, with Speak Low emerging as the one that remained in the mind after its performance was shared by Venus and Rodney. The other musical numbers will leave the theatre in the subconscious to be brought to reality when visions revive them. The dance arrangements by Choreographer William Tuckett fullfilled what was wanted at that time in the script and pleased the audience.
The audience went home well satisfied with this revival and reminder of times past. Make an effort to see this show and experience the power of Venus. © BA
“One Touch of Venus ” is in Leeds on the 8th December to the 11th December, 2004 and then touring. This is a No Smoking theatre. Car parking charge £2.50 from 5pm.
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