Mopoke Theatre Productions, an Adelaide-based independent theatre company’s presentation of ‘The Old Maid and the Thief, and the Telephone’, is light-hearted and entertaining.
The show opens with The Telephone, an amusing sketch about the hapless Ben (Nicholas Cannon), trying desperately to get a few moments undisturbed with his beautiful girlfriend Lucy (Jessica Mills) so he can propose to her. Awkwardly, Ben just cannot seem to get a word in because Lucy is constantly on the telephone gossiping with her friends. Running late to catch a train, every time Ben is about to nervously pop the question, the phone rings, and once again Lucy is happily chatting and gossiping with a friend on the other end of the annoying contraption. Finally, Ben decides the only solution is to leave the apartment and call Lucy on the telephone. This brilliant idea works, and Lucy is delighted to get the proposal and of course, says yes, making Ben a happy man.
It’s hard to imagine a funny comedy sketch as an opera, but that is what the Telephone is. Jessica (soprano) and Nicholas (Baritone) keep the banter moving with delightful humour, making the audience chuckle along the way.
Returning after twelve years, The Old Maid and the Thief was the first show from Mopoke Theatre Productions’ early beginnings. Laetitia (Jessica Mills) who works at the home of lonely spinster, Miss Todd (Catriona Barr), brings a charming stranger, Bob (Macintyre Howie-Reeves) into Miss Todds home. Bob, a drifter just passing through, infatuates Laetitia and so she persuades Miss Todd to let him stay.
The local gossip, Miss Pinkerton (Rachel McCall) pays a visit with disturbing news that an escaped prisoner, who’s description sounds very much like Bob, is at large somewhere in the area. Miss Todd, already under Bob’s charming spell, ignores the similarities, and lets Bob continue to laze around the house, taking advantage of Miss Todd’s hospitality.
To keep up with Bod’s appetite for liquor, Miss Todd and Laetitia begin stealing from the local liquor store, oddly making them thieves in the process. Miss Todd realises what she has done, embarrassed she confronts Bob and tells him to leave. Bob leaves with Laetitia, leaving Miss Todd alone, to face the consequence of what has happened.
The combined singing talent of Catriona Barr (mezzo soprano) Rachel McCall (mezzo soprano), Jessica Mills (Soprano) Macintyre Howie-Reeves (baritone) make this an enjoyable operatic experience.
Directors Nicholas Cannon and Macintyre Howie-Reeves, Musical Directors Sachiko Hidaka and Penelope Cashman, Set and Costume Designer James Nicholson and Lighting Designer and Technician Tom Hannagan work together to bring the fantastic production to life.
This is a great production, sung in English, and a good choice for first-time opera attendees. My daughter joined me for this production, and it was her first time at an opera, and she was surprised how much she enjoyed it. It’s exciting to watch a show that is locally produced, featuring local talent. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The State Opera Theatre at Netley is a suitable venue, well-suited for its purpose. Easy to access with plenty of parking spaces makes for a hassle free evening out.
To book tickets to The Old Maid, The Thief, The Telephone, please visit https://www.mopoketheatreproductions.com/the-telephone-the-old-maid-and-the-thief.
Photographer: Alex Craddock
