English Touring Opera have resurrected a missing gem with this joyful reworking of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s minor 17th century masterpiece The Duenna.
Written in the same year as his romp-a-long resurrection comedy The Rivals, it explores much of the same territory.
Yet this witty tale of a dual elopement - possibly based on Sheridan’s own extravagant experiences - has not been seen on the English stage for 230 years.
This is extraordinary because in its day it was a mega-hit and ran for an unprecedented 75 performances at Drury Lane.
This production, beautifully staged with a marvelous and skillfully lit set, stays utterly true to the Georgian origins of the piece while making sure that it communicates with a contemporary audience.
Byron described this as “the best opera ever written”. Dr Johnson also sang its praises. Certainly a superb English Touring Opera cast led by Richard Suart make the very most of this wonderfully accessible comedy.
Directed by Michael Barker-Caven, it exploits both Sheridan’s anarchic Irish genius and his ability to write a play - for this perhaps more of a play than an opera - that truly communicates. Sadly the writer of the inspired music - Sheridan’s nephew Tom Linley - died just three years later at the age of just 22.
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