Shaw Goes Wilde, Pegasus Opera Company at Susie Sainsbury Theatre 4 out of 5 stars
Although opera is generally considered and perceived as art for the higher echelons of society, the Pegasus Opera Company prides itself on community engagement and diversity. Indeed, in some ways, “Shaw Goes Wilde” – a two one-act opera production quite lives up to their commitment.
The first act based on Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale & The Rose – originally a children’s story is quite sombre and a bit of a struggle for the uninitiated to comprehend especially if you are not familiar with Wilde’s early work. Notwithstanding, the cast of nine put on an outstanding performance injecting life into a melancholic script with a dark and gloomy set.
The second act was quite contrary. The interpretation of Bernard Shaw’s “The Music Cure” is comedic and completely accessible. Although minimal in terms of a cast of three, the piece was lush and engaging from start to end. Shaw wrote the play as a satirical take on a real-life insider trading political scandal in the early 1900s. Lord Reginald Fitzambey is a pathetic privileged politician facing a parliamentary inquiry and in a terrible state of stress. The opening scenes are hilarious exchanges between the politician played by Oliver Brignall and his doctor played by Peter Brathwaite. The Lord pleads with the doctor to prescribe him opium so he can sleep. However, no sooner he falls asleep, Reginald is woken by the harsh sounds of a piano by Strega Thundridge played by the captivating Alison Buchanan, who had been employed by his mother to play to soothe his nerves. This leads to hilarious exchanges of wit, charm, insults and eventually declarations of love all beautifully sung and performed by the two.
There are a few significant positives to take away from “Shaw Goes Wilde”, especially from a diversity perspective. Great performances with leading roles by Alison Buchanan (who is also the Artistic Director of Pegasus Opera Company), Angela Caesar and Peter Brathwaite – highly trained and eminent talents in the opera world – who are also people of colour. Plus, it was enchanting to see the talented Philip Hagemann, who wrote and conducted the Opera, accompanied by a young and very diverse orchestra three of which came from the Lambeth Youth Symphony Orchestra.
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Credit: Sharon Wallace
