Feel the glitz and glamour of the 1920s with uplifting comedy The Merry Widow
The Merry Widow is the first show of the winter season to light up the Sydney Opera House, and is set to warm audiences with singing, dancing, glitz and glamour. Directed by Graeme Murphy, who brings his signature brand of lively choreography to the show, The Merry Widow runs until 18 August.
North Shore soprano Jane Ede will play Sylviane, one of the three Pontevedro diplomatic wives. “I think this show is the perfect antidote to the winter blues,” Jane explains. “It’s bubbly and fun and it looks and sounds so beautiful that I think if you’re sitting at home on a cold winter evening going, ‘Gosh, I just don’t know what to do with myself,’ this is the show to go to.”
The story centres around the tiny state of Pontevedro, which is bankrupt. Their only hope of financial salvation lies in Hanna, a beautiful widow who inherited her husband’s fortune. The Pontevedrians must convince her to marry a local, but she’s got history with the man they have in mind.
“I play one of the ‘silly wives,’” Jane explains. “We’re all misbehaving in various ways and we all get horribly caught out in the second act of Merry Widow in a big sequence of comic scenes involving a fan. So it’s a really fun role.”
Jane, whose husband Malcolm is in the chorus of the show, says that while the play is almost slapstick comedy in places, it’s also very touching and heartfelt.
“We’ve got this marvellous collection of leads that all bring a lot of thought and care to their performances,” she adds. Emma Pearson and Julie Lea Goodwin share the role of Hanna, supported by Alexander Lewis as Danilo and Alexandra Flood as Valencienne.
At the time of writing, the cast were in final rehearsals, putting the finishing touches on the show. “It’s absolutely beautiful, this production,” Jane explains. “It’s set in the 1920s and there’s a cabaret scene. There’s can-can girls and a big sequence where all of the dancers are waltzing across the stage.”
The story takes place in the fictitious country of Pontevedro, the backdrop of which is based on a Monet painting, making the setting ‘utterly spectacular’ Jane says. “Between the cabaret setting, the classy 1920s setting and the Pontevedrian party, all of it looks absolutely gorgeous.”
Most importantly, says Jane, it will leave audiences feeling good. “(The Merry Widow) will lift your spirits. You’ll be floating out, humming a tune and feeling like you’ve had a big glass of champagne.”
