As I was going down to the stalls to see The Moderate Soprano. I
heard an American ask, ‘what’s it about and will I understand?’ The answer was,
‘it’s quintessentially English and, yes, of course.’ I must admit that I'm not
a fan of opera and had always been assured that if you like musicals, you will
grow into opera. Sadly that’s a babygrow I’ve never grown into! However I did
go to Glyndebourne once and saw Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, but enough of my
vaguest recollections – apart from the picnic on the lawn!
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| Nancy Carroll and Roger Allam |
From the start, I must say that Jeremy Herrin's production of
The Moderate Soprano is the most beautiful, sensitive and elegant creation. The
design by Bob Crowley encapsulates pure style in its sheer simplicity and sets
the stage for the most beautiful performances from Roger Allam as John Christie
and Nancy Carroll, as his wife and the moderate soprano.
David Hare’s play is the story of a love affair between John
Christie and Audrey Mildmay, the search for artistic excellence in the face of
searing scrutiny, sacrifice and the impending Second World War, and a group of
refugees for whom life in Nazi Germany had become impossible. Above all, it’s
Christie’s obsession with building an opera house in the grounds of his home in
Glyndebourne in Sussex.
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| Jacob Fortune-Lloyd |
Roger Allam completely inhabits the Christie character, both
emotionally and mentally but physically with his transformative fat-suit and
bald wig. His love of Audrey Mildmay is palpable. Nancy Carroll is equally as
strong, and the interaction between the two is a wondrous piece of acting.
Anthony Calf as Carl Ebert, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Rudolf Bing and Paul Jesson
as Fritz Busch complete this incredible ensemble and are the perfect foils for
Christie’s cantankerous, almost obsessive, single-mindedness in achieving his
opera house dream.
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| Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Nancy Carroll, Roger Allam, Anthony Calf, Paul Jesson |
Christie wanted Wagner, but they gave him Mozart. I wanted a
good night at the theatre, but they gave me perfection - what more can anyone ask?
The Moderate Soprano runs at the Duke of York's Theatre until 30 June 2018 - Be quick!
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