FRANK CLIFF Norwich Theatre Royal

FRANK CLIFF

Norwich Theatre Royal

Glyndebourne Touring Opera's annual visit to Norwich began splendidly last night with Strauss's Die Fledermaus, that most celebrated of operettas.

This revival of the 2006 festival production slightly updates the action from the late 19th century to the Vienna of Freud, with an English text; a scintillating new translation by Stephen Lawless and Daniel Dooner which contains some additional and somewhat risqué material.

The art deco set, an ingenious revolve, is splendid to look at, especially in the ball scene.

The singing is mostly fine if somewhat uneven. Majella Cullagh is a wonderful Rosalinde and sings her Czardas with tremendous spirit. Amelia Farrugia is an enchanting Adele who delivers the same as “my dear Marquis” with great aplomb. John Graham-Hall's Eisenstein and David Kempster's Falke complement each other beautifully, Kempster's majestic Falke especially fine. Peter Hoare, way over the top, makes a hilarious Alfred and Allison Cook is a more than usual gender-bending Prince Orlofsky. Director Stephen Lawless paces the show perfectly throughout. It was also conductor Robin Ticciati's debut with the company as conductor.