“The women were simply brilliant – both vocally and dramatically... Lizzie Holmes was the fine and memorably well-sung and energetically well-acted Despina, especially delightful in the comic scenes disguised as the doctor and the judge. Her judge, in fact – an attractive and sexy woman – was so different visually from her Despina “look” that you could almost believe that she could have got away with it.” ★★★★
“Holmes (Despina) is recognised as a versatile and dynamic soprano; she certainly showed that with her two disguises, the doctor, and later, the notary… As the sister’s maid, Holmes joins in the charade and delights.”
Nicky Spence rings out like a heroic peal of bells as Siegmund. Emma Bell’s Sieglinde, in jeans and a tee-shirt, was the abused wife from The 39 Steps, welcoming a stranger (here with an industrial-sized jerry of water). Like Brünnhilde, a decent woman surrounded by vile men. The siblings work well together, despite schematic direction which initially has them moving like the figures in a German weather house.
“The women were simply brilliant – both vocally and dramatically... Lizzie Holmes was the fine and memorably well-sung and energetically well-acted Despina, especially delightful in the comic scenes disguised as the doctor and the judge. Her judge, in fact – an attractive and sexy woman – was so different visually from her Despina “look” that you could almost believe that she could have got away with it.” ★★★★
“Holmes (Despina) is recognised as a versatile and dynamic soprano; she certainly showed that with her two disguises, the doctor, and later, the notary… As the sister’s maid, Holmes joins in the charade and delights.”