The Thieving Magpie theatre reviews Grand Leeds UK

THEATRE

REVIEWS

The Thieving Magpie

Grand Theatre Leeds Leeds ENGLAND

It's a steal

After a rousing overture we knew that we were in for a good evening at the opera and so it turned out. Whatever was in Gioachino Rossini mind when he wrote The Thieving Magpie is anyone's guess for he described the story on which he based it as a "beautiful subject" and that story was the true story of a French peasant girl who was convicted and hung for theft, which subsequently turned out to have been carried out by a magpie. So how did he weave the spell? That you will have to find out by visiting Opera North when they visit your local theatre.

The simple plot that ensued, with what can only be described as wonderful melodic music, is what makes this opera high on any opera company's repertoire. Designer Sue Blane gives us a picture book pop up set which complimented all that is going on within it. Colin Smith's lighting is most subtle, only spoilt once by a low spot casting shadows beyond its objective in the goal scene.

The singers gave delight as they unfolded the story of a farmer Fabrizio Vingradito (Dean Robinson) and his bossy wife Lucia (Claire Williams), making preparations for the return of their soldier son Giannetto, marvellously sung with clear diction by Ashley Catling. Their servant girl Ninetta, delightfully sung by Mary Hegarty, has been unfortunate enough to be given some silver to sell for much needed cash by her soldier father Fernando Villabella (Jonathan Best), who is on the run from the army. Then coins are found to be missing and all hell lets loose as accusations are made and prejudices take precedence over common sense. The Mayor (Robert Poulton), with no investigation, sees only the servant girl as the culprit and does nothing as the judge and jury find the poor girl guilty. We meet other characters such as a peddlar, sung with the clear voice of Paul Wade, a gaoler sung by Paul Rendell and a peasant boy sung by a girl, Anne Marie Gibbons, to add to the confusion, with her diction lost in vibrato. All these are backed by, and at times in competition with, the voices of the opera north chorus as they give vent to the haunting melodies.

Bargain time with Paul Wade and Mary Hegarty
Martin Duncan directs with the aid of orchestra conductor David Parry, who needs reining in at times as his enthusiasm runs away with him and his disciplined orchestra and allows little time for the singers to say their words. As you can see from the foregoing it is an excellent evening as the singers take hold of the evening's entertainment.

The programme edited by Henrietta Bredin had lots of incidental information, but lacked details of the principals' performance register, as was done with the chorus. To sum up, as the judge did in the court, this is a first rate night at the opera and should not be missed if it comes anywhere near you. Now the judge got it wrong, so go and make your own mind up and prove that the law is not always right and that Rossini knew a beautiful subject when he came across it. Great music, great singing, great orchestra, great entertainment. © BA

“The Thieving Magpie” is in Leeds on the 28th January then reportory until the 26th February, 2005 and then touring. This is a No Smoking theatre. Car parking charge £2.50 from 5pm.

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