GOODNIGHT VIENNA

Fans of Operetta In Wolverhampton can still find the genre staged by Tettenhall Operatic Society. Their latest offering brought "Goodnight Vienna" to the stage.  First written in 1936 by George Posford and Eric Maschwitz this version was the revised one from 1968.

A small orchestra under the control of Peter Smith opened the proceedings. Peter also played piano most beautifully and I could have listened to the score with just Peter accompanying the singers.

Tettenhall stalwarts Sheila Smith and Jayne Butler played Vicki and Friedl the flower shop assistants and support for Beth Berwick-Lowe as leading lady Greta. The men's quartet consisted of leading man Adrian Peakman in the role of the Count Max and he was ably supported by Lt. Ernst (Geoff Silk), Lt. Johann (Sam Deakin) and Julian Souter as Hans the ex shop delivery "boy" but now Batman to Count Max.

Beautiful singing from all the cast but for me Director Julian Souter as Hans and Jane Souter as Cilli, the delivery girl, stole every scene. Their duets were a joy and they certainly got as many laughs as they could from the libretto.

Plenty of flowers in the shop and good to see the correct glasses used for the drinks but I don't know what it is about The Towers but every production I have seen there recently no attention appears to have been given by the Props Team to either making up a bed or, as in this production, sufficient details to the tablecloths on the cafe tables - they were a mess.

Overall a pleasant evening, lovely singing and lots of laughs.

I am looking forward to their next production.

Jean Beard deputising for Alf Rai. District 07.

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