What the Papers Said...

Review - Cavalleria Rusticana (from Southern Daily Echo)

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and TRIAL BY JURY
Winchester Operatic Society
Theatre Royal, Winchester
13th November 2009

A BOGOF deal in times of recession is always welcome and I’m certain everyone felt they had got a bargain with Winchester Operatic Society’s double bill.

Cavalleria Rusticana tells the story of Santuzza (Kate Freemantle) who moved the audience with her beautiful singing and heart rending story of her partner. Turiddu (Anthony Reid) is having an affair with the feckless Lola (Carole Lilly) and is killed by her husband, Alfio (Peter Barber), while his mother, Lucia (Penny Bullough) weeps. The men needed to portray a little more hot-blooded Sicilian passion but superb sound and orchestration from all.

Trial By Jury is the perfect antidote to the first half, with the amusing direction, cracking pace and obvious enjoyment of the cast. Set in a court room, the defendant (Peter Revis) charms and pouts as the coy but cunning plaintiff (Georgie Bottriel) gets her own way and ends up with the lecherous, alcoholic judge (Adrian Hickford). A superb set, total focus from everyone and attention to detail make this operetta a riot.

Rebecca Case