BWW Reviews: Mozart on Marimbas, Trumpet and Drums Make This South African FLUTE Magic, Indeed

The Metropolitan Opera may have its spectacular Julie Taymor production of THE MAGIC FLUTE, but the real fun in town is the Mozart at the new Victory Theatre on West 42nd Street, where the South African Isango Ensemble is in residence.

IMPEMPE YOMLINGO--as FLUTE is translated into the Xhosa language from the townships around Cape Town--treated a family audience to a riff on the famous singspiel that came off better than one could have hoped. It proved the universality of Mozart's music and this opera in particular, while adding elements from local folklore that made as much sense an anything else in the opera.

A plain raked stage

Set on a plain raked stage, the production uses a minimum of scenery but gets a maximum of effect, performed in English with a smattering of African dialects. There's an orchestra comprised mainly of marimbas--the instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with mallets--and other percussion, with a barefoot co-conductor/music director (Mandisi Dyantyis) who played trumpet as the sound of the magic flute.

With an exuberant company that doubles (or triples) as dancers, singers and musicians, this is Mozart that the composer couldn't have imagined, filled with artists at various stages of their creative development. And while none of the singers matched the Met's South African soprano Pretty Yende in style or technique, there seemed to be much raw talent from the disadvantaged townships that deserve a bigger outlet and the opportunity to develop further.

Larger than life

Soprano Pauline Malefane, who is also the company's co-music director and co-conductor, for example, was a formidable Queen of the Night, who came off better than her recent counterpart at the Met. Zolina Ngejane (a feisty Pamina)and Zamile Gantana (Papageno) showed off larger than life personalities that worked wonderfully in this interpretation, while the Three Ladies (Nontsusa Louw, Siyanda Ncobo and Cikizwa Ndamase) and Three Spirits (Noluthando Boqwana, Zoleka Mpotshe and Busisiwe Ngejane) added much to the joy of the performance.

Perhaps the most touching scene was the initiation of Tamino (a charming Mhlekazi Whawha Mosiea) into the order headed by Sarastro (the dignified Ayanda Eleki), which owed more to African lore than it did to Freemasonry, but somehow brought the two together.

Timeless qualities

In his program notes, director Mark Dornford-May, said, "The Magic Flute owes part of its huge popularity to the unlikely combination of a fairytale with a passionate and all-encompassing tale of an individual's faith and belief." His production--which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival in London (2008)--adds folkloric elements that enhance all those timeless qualities of the original opera and make it a unique experience.

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Photo: Soprano Pauline Malefane as a formidable Queen of the Night

Photo by Keith Pattison

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