The Threepenny Opera

Lucy Maunder and Eddie Perfect on stage at Sydney Theatre
In Malthouse Theatre and Victorian Opera’s
The Threepenny Opera
© Lisa Tomasetti 2011

 The Threepenny Opera -  Sydney Theatre Company and Asteron present a Malthouse Melbourne and Victorian Opera production, 4-24 September 2011.

I had the pleasure of seeing this production on Saturday night. I was bowled over.  It was a cross between Opera, Musical Hall and the Circus of Horrors.
This is set in Sydney which, with Underbelly and other beliefs and stories of the criminal side to Sydney, the mere mention of The Cross brings to mind the seedy and the whore houses and helps build the mood of the performance.

The Threepenny Opera is the story about Macheath and his criminal antics, but his marriage to Polly is his undoing as her parents Mr and Mrs Peacham seek to put him in his rightful place, swinging on a noose.
Macheath played by Eddie Perfect freely acknowledges that he's a sadist and rapist, a thief and a liar. He is cocky and believes he is untouchable and he was until Jenny played by Paul Capsis and the other prostitutes turn against him.
The Melbourne production has been partially recast since the 2010 staging Eddie Perfect, Paul Capsis (Jenny) and Grant Smith (Mr Peachum) are the remaining original principals. Amanda Muggleton in the role of the tart-with-no-heart Mrs Peachum joined the group with just two weeks of rehearsals, and having seen the show you would not have guessed this to be the case.   Also, new to the cast was Lucy Maunder as her daughter Polly. Lucy has a great voice and as they say on Australian Idol she killed it!
The casting of Paul Capsis as lawless Jenny (and secondarily, as the bishop) is inspired, he is clearly enjoys both roles and has a great stage presence.  He/Jenny opens the show with a piercing scream followed by the opening song Mac the Knife.

Eddie Perfect and Lucy Maunder on stage at Sydney Theatre
In Malthouse Theatre and Victorian Opera’s
The Threepenny Opera
© Lisa Tomasetti 2011

This production is one of my favourites of the year. The costumes and make-up were amazing the best I have seen in years.  The whole production with the moving set, the use of video all added to the show which is exactly what it should do.  I would give it top marks and say definitely go and see it, book your seat now.