Review: The Magic Flute, The Place

Currently showing at The Place, one of London’s dedicated dance spaces, The Magic Flute is a dance-theatre adaptation aimed at children aged five and above, based on Mozart’s classic opera of the same name.

Featuring an impressive creative mix of dance, storytelling, puppetry, operatic singing, shadow play and an imaginative set, including a screen displaying the captioned script, there is a great deal happening on stage. Remarkably, all of this is delivered by just five extremely talented performers.

Nathan Bartman, as Papageno, opens the piece with a fluid, acrobatic display, introducing himself directly to the audience and breaking the fourth wall. This device is used frequently and effectively throughout the performance by various cast members. It works well for the young audience, allowing plot points to be explained or recapped, which is particularly helpful as The Magic Flute is not the easiest story to follow, even for adults.

As the performance continues, we are introduced to the Three Ladies, who carry out the Queen’s commands. Represented by three identical masks operated by a single performer, they are visually striking and slightly unnerving, their heads appearing to float in mid-air. They quickly dispatch the monster (another impressive puppet, operated by two performers, its black satin skin billowing behind it) that threatens the life of Prince Tamino (Jacob Lang). Tamino is tasked with rescuing the Queen’s daughter, Princess Pamina (Faith Prendergast), who has been captured by the wise and powerful Sarastro.

Throughout the storytelling, accomplished dance and operatic singing are delivered alongside acrobatic movement and quieter moments of reflection. A potential mid-performance dip in energy is neatly avoided through audience interaction, almost pantomime-like in style, which successfully re-energises the space. Donna Lennard, who plays the Queen amongst other roles, is particularly impressive vocally.

There is no doubt about the quality of the performances or the care and effort invested in this production. Even the bar area, used as a waiting space before the auditorium opens, is attractively decorated with seasonal fir branches, and a craft table is set up for those wishing to engage creatively before the show. However, the storyline is not easy to follow, and it is likely that many of the younger audience members struggled to grasp it. The advertised age of five feels too young for a plot as nebulous as this, particularly as performers take on multiple roles, which can make it difficult to track who is which character. While the desire to gently introduce young audiences to opera is admirable and important, this production may have been better suited to slightly older children: at least eight and above.

Adapted and directed by Luca Silvestrini
Devised and performed by Nathan Bartman, Jacob Lang, Donna Lennard and Faith Prendergast
Set & Costume Design by Dick Bird
Rearranged Mozart and new music by Frank Moon
Creative captions and video design by Douglas Baker
Lighting design by Rachel Shipp
Sound and Video tech by Yoji Yau
Produced by Protein. Luca Silvestrini

The Magic Flute is aimed at ages 5+ and plays at The Place until Wednesday 24 December.