This glorious version of The Magic Flute combines music, dancing, singing, speech, scenery, costumes, and video to create a show that is suitable for all ages. It kept me engrossed but it also kept my grandsons, aged 6 and 4, entirely engaged while telling the original Mozart/Schikaneder story, at least its core elements. It cleverly incorporates a good deal of the most famous music of the original, but transformed and adapted by Frank Moon, who specialises in music for dance and stage. As a Mozart fanatic, I was initially wary of this loss of some musical gems but I have to say that there were moments of genius. The dance that Pamina performed to the music of her great aria Ach Ich Fuhl’s was almost as heart-breaking as the aria when sung. I was won over!
The heart of the original story is maintained. Prince Tamino, summoned by the Queen of the Night, takes on the task of freeing her daughter Pamina from captivity in the Sanctuary of the Sun, and from its leader Sarastro. Tamino is assisted by Papageno, the bird catcher, and three friendly spirits but his progress is hindered by the Queen’s three ladies-in-waiting. He soon realises that Pamina’s plight is more complicated than the queen had told him and that pursuing the quest for Truth and Love is the key to winning Pamina’s freedom, and his own too. They pass together through the trials of fire and water and reach their happy ending. And so does Papageno, though his trials are a little different.
There are only four performers and somehow they manage to play all the roles. The human warmth at the centre of the story is provided by Nathan Bartman who is a superb Papageno, a story-teller, joker, and dancer who runs the show. He has a lovable energy that is absolutely right for the role and – as it should be – his final union with Papagena is just as important to the story’s climax as that of Tamino and Pamina. Just as impressive is Donna Lennard who plays Queen of the Night, Sarastro (or King of the Sun, as my grandsons called him), Papagena – and, believe it or not, the three ladies. For the King and Queen roles, she was helped a lot by the spectacular costumes designed by the wonderful Dick Bird, and she made a pretty good job of the Queen’s demanding arias – the pre-recorded music left no room for anything less than proper coloratura and she was right up there. Jacob Lang was a fine prince. His Tamino was no real hero – indeed, Mozart never intended him to be one. What sort of hero begins by running on stage and fainting in terror before a monster? But his love affair with Pamina was truly touching and the danced trials of fire and water, cleverly staged against video projected onto billowing drapes, suggested a youth who had reached manhood through hardship. Faith Prendergast was just as convincing as Pamina – a wonderful dancer and fine actor – who earned her right to carry the flute alongside Tamino through to the happy ending.
This whole piece is a creation of the amazing Luca Silvestrini and his Protein Dance Company. He seems to combine a unique creative vision with an ability to gather around him a team – both in front of, and behind, the curtain – who can bring it to life. I saw the show at a ‘relaxed’ performance and the whole cast seemed to be sensitive to the unusual audience and handled the participation elements with real delicacy without compromising the fun. Like any opera lover I have seen many Magic Flutes – this one will live long in my memory.
Venue: The Place
Devised by Luca Silvestrini and the cast (after Mozart and Schikaneder)
Director: Luca Silvestrini
Composer: Frank Moon (after Mozart)
Performers: Nathan Bartman, Jacob Lang, Donna Lennard, Faith Prendergast
Running time: 1 hours 15 Minutes
Dates: until 24 December 2025
Photograph credit: Jane Hobson