Replace Jupiterâs thunderbolt with a pair of saucy knickers and youâve got a recipe for a rambunctious evening of rollicking fun at the Sheldonian Theatre. Offenbachâs exuberant operetta is based on the classical myth in which the musician Orpheus journeys to the Underworld to rescue his unwanted wife Eurydice only for Jupiter to win her from him by foul play. Director Michael Burden makes best use of an unforgiving space: a raised platform encircling the orchestra constitutes the stage, and the absence of a set doesnât hinder the action. For the most part, the singersâ acting is perfectly adequate: Dominic Bowe lends Pluto a limp-wristed suaveness, and a bumbling Jupiter (James Geidt) brings cheeky eroticism to the buzzing âFly Duetâ.
The quality of singing might be slightly lacking in the male department, but the female voices more than make up for this: Anna Sideris sings beautifully as Calliope and Tara Mansfield (Venus) compensates for her poor diction with ravishing lyricism. Julia Sitkovetskyâs sparkling coloratura and sensational top E brings exactly whatâs required to the role of Eurydice. Her mincing sauciness and farcical rapport with husband Orpheus (Will Blake) had the audience in fits.
Benjamin Holderâs beautifully paced conducting deserves special mention, as does the swooning clarinet solo in the overture â thus the orchestraâs minor tuning issues are entirely forgiven.
Oxfordâs own New Chamber Company greatly impressed with this raunchy production. Highlights of the evening included the godsâ riotous âRevolutionary Chorusâ and I was left with the pounding âInfernal Galopâ (the Can-Can) ringing in my ears.
Nick Georgiou
4 stars
Orpheus in the Underworld is on at the Sheldonian Theatre Studio tonight at 8pm.
