Fortitude returns as a delightful old friend

Review

The Legend Returns

Theatre Royal,

Sunday May 15 at 4pm

Reviewed by Mike Williams

At a bit more than 80 minutes it was all too brief, but there is a lot of material packed into The Legend Returns.

Slightly faded but internationally celebrated opera diva Cynthia Fortitude (Helen Moulder) and her long-suffering companion and accompanist, Gertrude Rallentando (Rose Beauchamp) visit works by Rachmaninov, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini and more, including their piece de resistance – their own work-in-progress, Stan (renamed Don yesterday, in honour of a sporting chap in the front row).

It’s warmly funny romp, with clever asides and references that make you listen extra carefully, lest you miss something.

Cynthia Fortitude is a hoot. She’s a bit dotty, emotional and forgetful, but her exuberance is infectious.

So when she does things like fudging her way through part of one of Rossini’s arias by inserting her own words for the bits she can’t remember, the audience embraces the experience with glee.

As Gertrude, Beauchamp says nothing at all yet speaks volumes with the slightest eyebrow lift or sideways glance.

Her relationship with Moulder’s Cynthia is detailed and rounded. They have an easiness about them that comes from years together on the road and on the stage – two very fine performances.

The play was developed almost 14 years ago by Moulder and Beauchamp, in collaboration with actor and writer Michael Wilson, who also originally directed the show.

The script is deliciously witty and intelligent (but not snobbish) from start to finish, and the magic woven by Moulder and Beauchamp brings it alive superbly.

In a nice touch, after the enthusiastic applause died down last night, Moulder and Beauchamp spoke about the play and their thoughts at the end of their short tour.

They said bringing the play back to Nelson (14 years on) was very special for them both.

And for us ladies, and for us.