The Merry Widow at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow review
On the other hand, this production looks gorgeous.
The set and costumes, by takis and Lise Bondu, are sumptuous, there is a superb design change between Acts Two and Three, and fine projected animation at the start (after a house-keeping announcement that is also all part of the production). The huge cast includes excellent chorus-work and too many delightful cameos to list here – even if the New York/Italian accents are variably executed, the good ones are very good.
The best performances among the principals come from Henry Waddington, as 'Don' Zeta, and Alex Otterburn as his 'consigliere' Danilo, in some ways reprising their double act as Dad and Eddy in the company's 2017 staging of Turnage's Greek. Both understand the tone of the production perfectly – if the rise of the stage musical was what did for the golden age of operetta, Savournin and his associates simply assume it is all the same thing.
On the first night, both Paula Sides, as the widow Hanna Glawari, and Rhian Lois as Zeta's wife 'Valentina', now an ex-showgirl married to the mob, didn't always match the assurance of the men in performance, although they sang well enough.
In fact the best of the music often came from the pit, the Orchestra of Scottish Opera conducted by music director Stuart Stratford (introduced as 'Stick-man Stewie'). With guitars and mandolins alongside the harp, the large band often sounded better balanced than the many singers onstage, not only in those details but also in the string soloists and impressively crisp brass.
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Yorkshire - Stefano's Pizza 12 Stefano's offers tasty authentic Italian pizzas cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven Credit: Stefano's Pizza Head to Harrogate and you'll find an authentic Italian pizzeria serving up traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas. Stefano's Pizza uses a wood-fired pizza oven to cook its tasty dishes. They include the Mortadella pizza which comes with fior de latte mozzarella, mortadella ham, stracciatella cheese and pistachio. Then there's also the Diavola, the Capricciosa, and the spicy Nduja pizzas. One reviewer said you'd be "hard pushed to find better anywhere". Another raved: "This is my new favourite place for pizza. You won't be disappointed." Edinburgh - Bucks Bar 12 Bucks Bar is known for its delicious buttermilk fried chicken and its famous wings Credit: Willie Mackenzie/Google Bucks Bar Grindlay Street claims to have "the best free range buttermilk fried chicken you've ever tasted". And if the reviews are anything to go by, its customers agree. 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One person even said it was some of the best food they'd eaten in a long time. Kent - Sotirio's Bar and Restaurant 12 Even if you sit inside at Sotirio's, the restaurant is bright and airy Credit: Sotirio's Bar and Restaurant This Folkestone gem offers up Greek food by the seaside. It's earned a huge 4.9 out of 5 stars on OpenTable, with reviewers praising its "amazing" food. There's a meze option that comes with baklava and ice cream for dessert, or you can opt for main dishes like moussaka, racks of lamb and souvlaki. One reviewer said: "I couldn't recommend Sotirios enough! The host's, service and food were all outstanding. "The food is definitely made with passion and love! Will definitely be visiting again." Newcastle - The Broad Chare 12 This looks like a great spot for sitting out in the sun (with a bit of shade) at The Broad Chare Credit: The Broad Chare It says a lot about The Broad Chare that it was immediately awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand when it opened in 2011. 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