Wild Arts The Magic Flute – Simply Beautiful!

Mozart’s beloved final opera ‘The Magic Flute’ was brought to vivid and wonderful life by Wild Arts at the Rep Birmingham last night. It was there for a one night only show, and was an absolute delight, with an exception cast, performing an updated English translation by Jeremy Sams.

The Magic Flute is often described as a gateway opera, an opera for people who have never seen an opera, or believe they wouldn’t actually like an opera. It is also one of the most beloved shows of all due to the fact that it is often funny, and has one of opera’s most famous characters in the irresistible Papageno, here played with so much charm and comic timing by Gareth Brynmor John.

It is also a slightly ambiguous story, it seems to be a traditional tale, where a beautiful princess Pamina (Natasha Page) the daughter of the Queen of the Night, has been kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Sarastro. A Prince, Tamino, who has ventured into the Queen’s foreign land, is attacked by a monster, and rescued by the Queen’s ladies, who give him a picture of Pamina, and he instantly falls in love and vows to rescue her, accompanied by the bird catcher Papageno, who is himself mourning a lost love.

They set off to find the princess, given a magic flute and bells to help them with their task. So far, so fairy story. But it is here that the plot twists. Who is really good in this story, is day really day, and night really night. This subversion is why this is one of the most beloved operas of them all, and Wild Arts have staged this in stunning fashion.

The cast is vocally, and visually perfect, able to convey both despair, and also moments of hilarity, like when Papageno first meets one of Sarastro’s henchmen and it is hard to decide who is the most frightened. Luci Briginshaw as The Queen of the Night shows real sorrow and grief which manifests itself physically – she appears completely broken during her first aria, but it is of course, her second half aria that we are waiting for, ‘Der Hölle Rache’, aka the Queen of the night area, and it is just stunning, soaring around the beautiful acoustics of the Rep Theatre.

Richard Dowling as Tamino and Natasha Page as Pamina are perfect in both actions and voice, and have a lovely chemistry which works so well. Edward Hawkins as Sarastro is a commanding presence who dominates the stage.

The staging from Wild Arts is wonderful with the orchestra on the stage at all times. The sparse backdrop gives an otherworldly feel to proceedings, while the updated translations of the songs make this accessible to children as well as adults. This is a wonderful show full of heart and performed with sheer verve.

Just incredible.

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