Operetta in Ealing

The Merry Widow at Questors

West London Opera are staging Franz Lehár’s operetta The Merry Widow at Questors in May.

The operetta is a lively send-up of the personalities in the embassy of a small principality attempting to ensure that marriage does not take the inheritance of a rich widow out of the country. The widow is the key player in a web of intrigue. Lehár’s score is a musical bonanza Viennese style that became the most popular of its era, packed with melody, high kicking, and repartee with a touch of Gilbertian irreverence. It came to London in 1907 and ran for 778 consecutive performances, and has retained a charm and appeal of its own to this present day.

The production marks the fiftieth anniversary of West London Opera, joined this year by the Mazury Polish Folk Dance Company who give a particular vitality and sense of movement to the occasion. The orchestra is directed and conducted by Gary Peacock, and the opera is produced by John Drewry.

Performances are 12, 13 and 14 May at 7.45 at Questors Theatre, Mattock Lane, Ealing, with tickets £15.00, concessions £12.00. The opera box office is on 020 8423 3797. The Theatre is a short way from Ealing Broadway station, and from several bus routes along the Broadway. There is limited local on-road parking, and a larger parking area behind the Town Hall on the north side of the Broadway.

4 May 2011