The Merry Widow back in town

By Colin Dunn

CHARGE your glasses and surrender to the sumptuous music as the Maleny Singers bring Franz Lehar’s most popular work, ‘The Merry Widow’, back to the stage. The Singers will tell the story of a romance between Count Danilo – sung by Rod Johnson – and his ex-flame, the newly-widowed and fabulously wealthy Anna Glavari – sung by Viera Keogh.

Pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy and Anna must marry a local to save the Fatherland. The action is set at the Pontevedrian embassy in Paris, and Anna has no shortage of suitors. You’ll find yourself humming along to such favourites as ‘Vilja’, the operetta’s best known aria, and ‘The Merry Widow Waltz’. Will Danilo finally declare his love for Anna, or will a Frenchman win the day and send Pontevedro into despair?

Directed and conducted by Margaret Taylor, the Singers are accompanied by a 25-piece orchestra and joined by dancers as the party scales new heights in this spectacular production. Mark your calendar for two weekends of 11-12 and 18-19 June at the Maleny Community Centre. This will be one to remember. Tickets via trybooking.com and Maleny Information Centre from May.