Burnaby Lyric Opera.

Burnaby Lyric Opera staged an effervescent production in February of Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Stage direction, set design and the timely English dialogue adaptation were all by Matthew Bissett. The stage was set with an effective backdrop of a hanging blue triangle to represent a window or a wall, and a huge yellow circle to define the entranceway staircase. The circle accented the entrance of Michelle Koebke (Adele), who lit up the stage with a well-produced and -controlled soprano and her consummate acting. She was hilarious. As Rosalinde, Heidi Muendel projected a luscious warm timbre. Her emotional conflict with Alfred was well-nuanced and contrasted well with her confident Czardas in Act II.

Russell Robson portrayed Alfred with panache, wiping away his love's concerns by singing his top A and repeatedly sweeping her into his arms. As Gabriel von Eisenstein, Wayne Line's robust tenor was well-articulated and well-projected, his acting fluid and dramatic. Turning Dr. Blind into a woman was effective, and Nicole Blom made the part delightful and believable. Dr. Falke was played by Javier Gutierrez, who carried on despite laryngitis and had the director augment his solos with the rest of the cast joining in.

As Frank, the prison warden, Christopher Simmons maintained his usual high standard vocally and dramatically, and was particularly funny (with Line) in the "French scene." Michelle McKenzie portrayed Orlofsky convincingly, with the twist in this production that her character ended up with Adele. Louisa O'Keane made a delightful Ida and Kennedy Goodkey cast new light on Frosch in a thankfully attenuated script. David Boothroyd accompanied the production effectively on the pit piano.