Walmsley Operatic Society is noted for prodigious feats with scenery. In the current production of “Naughty Marietta”, an old Victor Herbert musical, the standard is well maintained. Given the limitations of a small stage and a great many people, the world of New Orleans at the end of last century is well created.
Even in 1910, when the operetta took the New York stage by storm, Marietta’s behaviour could hardly have been thought all that naughty. Loopy perhaps, for she concealed herself in a fountain where she continually sings a snatch of song in the belief that the man who completes the phrase would be her true love. This seems a somewhat slender foundation on which to base a marriage and strains the credibility a bit. But Joyce Foster plays her as a pert, provocative Miss (although of course she is really a Countess in disguise) and with a very flexible, true soprano, sings the Herbert music just as it ought to be sung.
Her musically gifted lover (at long last) rejoices in the name of Dick Warrington, which in these parts takes a bit of the romance out of it. However, Bill Dixon is sufficiently heroic to overcome this initial setback and outwits the mild villainy of Etienne Grandet, played by Graham R. Edgington.
If you can forget the plot long enough to listen to the music you are assured of an entertaining evening. The singing, under the direction of Jessie Whittaker, is of unusually high standard. Production is by Audrey Raistrick – her first full-length effort, and very creditable too – and the choreography has been devised by Sonia Joy Talbot.
