Well worth the ten minute walk from Shadwell Overground to Wilton’s Music Hall. Committed vocals with a zingy stage design.
For us urban types without a car, a summer of rural escapes to out-of-town opera productions acts as a reminder of just how far-reaching Dr Beeching’s swingeing cuts to the rail infrastructure stretched back in the 1960s. Waterperry Opera’s production in association with Charles Court Opera, playing at Wilton’s Music Hall, gets around the travel challenge. Shadwell Overground is a short hop away from SE6. I know of two neighbours in my road who have made the trip.
CCO / Waterperry’s September London staging of Donizetti’s Elixir warrants the ten-minute walk from the station. The influencers behind me described the interior as ‘whimsical’ on the press night – earned – one that saw attendance span at least five decades. The tariff at the bar is reasonable. The atmosphere, cute.
The vocal talent is fierce. Consistent too. Donizetti’s story isn’t necessarily easy to follow even with the English translation, though that really doesn’t matter in the slightest. The tunes are reliable, the mood uplifting, and the humour adorable. Nestled in the stripped back faded grandeur of Wilton’s Music Hall, the stage design zings with a colourful playfulness that echoes the commitment each member of the cast delivers.
Matthew Kellett is the inadvertent but altogether pleasing lead. As Dulcamara, Kellett plays the role with a whiff of Back to the Future’s Dr Emmett Brown about him in costume and in spirit, though not in hair colour — a compelling performance that drives the plot on with relentless energy. Xavier Hetherington is a bumbling accidentally lovable Nemorino with a voice that gently singes the edge of the soul before retreating to the back of the stage with even more charming humility. The supporting cast is phenomenally strong, their considerable vocal ability reinforced by the intimate surroundings. But, the resounding star is musical director David Eaton whose keyboard work fills the space with an infectious spirit and determination.
This production stirs the heart and energises the soul. They know it’s good. And that makes watching the production even more rewarding.
Donizetti’s Elixir of Love runs at Wiltons Music Hall until 19 September
