{"id":6913,"date":"2022-03-10T10:58:38","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T10:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horsington.blog2.idnet.com\/?p=6913"},"modified":"2022-03-11T13:33:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T13:33:29","slug":"merry-widow-marks-the-welcome-return-of-the-mpo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/horsington.blog2.idnet.com\/?p=6913","title":{"rendered":"Merry Widow marks the welcome return of the MPO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Book online at www.mpopera.co.uk or at Waynes’s Butchers, Milborne Port<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They are back! Horsington\u2019s favourite musical theatre company, the Milborne Port Opera,  is back on stage with  Franz Lehar\u2019s popular operetta \u201cThe Merry Widow\u201d, full of memorable songs, waltzes and the Can Can, performed by the company\u2019s delightful \u201cGrisettes\u201d.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show opens opens on April 20th at Milborne Port Village Hall. The Box Office is now open, and if previous shows are anything to go by, early booking is advised<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Merry Widow features all the MPO regulars, and is also very funny. It concerns the antics of the expatriate community in Paris of a tiny country called Pontevedro, located somewhere in the mountains of Transylvania<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country\u2019s richest banker dies on his honeymoon, leaving his delightful young widow, Anna Glavari, with 20 millions of whatever currency they use. The pompous ambassador Count Zeta plots to ensure that only a Pontevedran will  marry the widow and get the money, but who can he find? Step forward Count Danilovitch, aka Danilo, who is determined not to fall in love with her. Come and see it to find out if he does!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ex Horsington resident Andrew Armstrong plays the Ambassador<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The show is set in Paris and is packed with romance, intrigue, confusion, humour and lots of memorable tunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the usual MPO cast will be performing and are delighted to be back after a long absence. Horsington\u2019s Chris Bailward directs, Caroline D\u2019Cruz is directing the music and Naomi Booth is the choreographer. Several performers appeared in the first production of this operetta by MPO in 2004. Don\u2019t miss this one!.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jessie Stones, (centre) is the Merry Widow, surrounded by hopeful suitors (l-r) Neil Harrison, Ben Grundy, Oscar Shave-Smythies, Trevor John and Jackie Mannung<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Merry Widow \u2013 From 20-23 April (the week after Easter), Milborne Port Village hall 7.30. Tickets are \u00a314.00 (Concession on 1st<\/sup> night only) Book online at www. mpopera.co.uk<\/a> or Waynes Butchers in Milborne Port.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MPO is now in its 31st<\/sup> Year. It missed 2020 due to the Covid lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, enjoy their video, which gives you a flavour of the plot and the music<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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