Chester Operatic Society take on Strauss classic

Oct 8 2008 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

THE closure of Chester’s Gateway Theatre has meant that amateur companies in the city have had to seek alternative venues for their productions.

Chester Operatic Society has chosen the Catholic High School in Handbridge for its latest production of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.

Directed by Juliet Miles, with musical direction by Graham Pike, the production is billed as a “sparklingly updated version of this bubbling Strauss opera”.

Re-orchestrated by Park and Hammer and updated by Juliet Miles, the opera tells the story of Dr Falke who is abandoned by his friend to walk home alone after a party in his bat costume.

Flirting, mistaken identity and drunken lechery ensues as the doctor gets his revenge.

The role of Adele, the maid, is played by Dia Steinstordottia, who moved to Chester nine years ago from Iceland. She studied at the Singing School of Reykjavik and was a member of the Icelandic Opera Choir and will be performing in The Second Coming, the Liverpool Cathedral concert production of the Chester Mystery Plays on October 10 and 11..

Representatives from the school will be operating the bar and refreshments during the interval and there will be plenty of free parking.

Die Fledermaus is on at Chester Catholic High School from Tuesday, October 28 to Saturday, November 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets £11 from Chester Festivals Box Office at Chester Racecourse, tel 01244 304618.

Pictures from rehearsals for Die Fledermaus will appear in the Celebrations section of this Friday’s Chronicle, on sale from October 10.