QR Entertainment Review: The Threepenny Opera at Lyric Theatre

Rich in sex, charm and great performances all around, Northern Ireland Opera’s showcase of The Threepenny Opera is one to watch!

As the famed song goes, Mackie’s back in town! Originally adapted from John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera by Brecht and Weill, Northern Ireland Opera Artistic Director Walter Sutcliffe has brought his vision of the tales and tunes of famed gangster “Mack The Knife” to  Belfast's Lyric Theatre. Alongside Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble conductor Sinead Hayes comes a cast featuring internationally renowned baritone Steven Page (Pleasure; Oedipus), Jayne Wisener (The Inbetweeners; Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) and Matthew Cavan, better known as his sensational Belfast drag alter-ego Cherrie Ontop.

Location: London. Beneath a city preparing to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria is an underbelly of crooks, corruption and deceit. And at its heart is the notorious Macheath, a.k.a. “Mack The Knife” (Mark Dugdale), whose womanising ways leads him to marry Polly Peachum (Jayne Wisener): the daughter of London’s top conman and controller of London’s beggars. Furious at this, Mr Peachum (Steven Page) proclaims to have Macheath hanged for his actions; sparking a game of cat-and-mouse where true colours are shown – from the brothel maids and Macheaths’ wives; to London’s Chief of Police (Richard Croxford - The Importance of Being Earnest) – and money talks… very well as a matter of fact!

The heads of the Peachum family are two of the stand-out performers of this piece. Page’s grand baritone voice is not just a point of considerable admiration throughout his musical portions, but, his eloquent and gentlemanly accent – whether natural or accentuated for this role – is a wonderful tool to demonstrate the juxtaposed nature of Mr Peachum as a devious and affluent conman. Matthew Cavan as Cecilia Peachum, meanwhile, is a consistent scene-stealer and an ideal casting for the family’s matriarch with even the subtlest of facial expressions and grimaces oozing character and hilarity.

Dugdale’s portrayal of Mack the Knife is, personally, a great example of a despicable bad-guy who I can’t help but get behind. Behind every smile or *ahem* heartfelt dialogue with his wives, you can taste Macheath’s slyness and scumbagerry – and it is great! Both of Macheath’s other “loves” (Kerry Quinn as Jenny Diver;  Brigid Shine as Lucy Brown) offer strong performances and strengthen the despicable nature of his bigamy; whilst Jayne Wisener’s Polly Peachum is a well-suited accomplice as his latest conquest with a performing chemistry which embraces the newly-weds cheeky, and more sultry, moments. The supporting cast also offer plenty of laughs and, in the case of Tommy Wallace, a fleshy view which leaves little to the imagination!

Walter Sutcliffe's version of The Threepenny Opera certainly makes enjoyable viewing for all. Time flies when you're having fun as the performance as a whole never seems to drag with the darkly inappropriate humour being utilised to just the right amount to keep it snappy enough, but not too over-indulged. All this alongside the expert tones of the impressive Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble rounds of a hearty little production which you should endeavour to see whenever you can.

The Threepenny Opera, directed by Northern Ireland Opera Artistic Director Walter Sutcliffe, is currently in performance at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast from January 27th to February 10th 2018.

Current performance times are at 7:45pm (Tuesday – Saturday) and 2:30pm (Sunday matinee).

27-28th & 30th January: £13

Off-Peak (Tuesday – Thursday and matinees): £15

Peak (Friday & Saturday): £24.50

Students,  and under 20s (any performance – except Friday and Saturday night): £10

Over 65's (any matinee): £10

By Matthew Kirk