Dido and Aeneas

This WAAPA production featured 2nd and 3rd Year Classical Voice students, as well as Diploma Dance Students, with music provided by the Music Department. It was directed by Head of Acting - Glenda Linscott, making it a very cross-department production. It managed to sound and look impressive despite being an unfunded production.

The work, written by Henry Purcell, was composed and first performed between 1687 and 1689. A significant proportion of the original music has been lost, and this production included reconstructed music and was performed with the lengthy prologue and the spoke epilogue.

The masque style prologue featured some memorable performances with Theo Murphy-Jelley as Phoebus and Rebekah Bennet as Venus giving dignified, beautifully sung performances. Miriam Meakin was vibrant as Spring. The very talented ensemble also provided some gorgeously sung solos, all solid, with Aria Scarlett standing out.

The title roles in Dido and Aeneas were nicely chosen. Lucy Schneider sang beautifully and looked like a story book Queen of Carthage, while Jake Bigwood was a picture-perfect Trojan Prince, in well-acted portrayals. Emma Oorschot was outstanding as Dido's confidante Belinda, and Jillian Halleron was lovely as lady in waiting Anna.

Joshua Mitting (who also shone in the prologue) was a formidable Sorceress, his witch companions nicely portrayed by Lauren Burns and Caitlin Rowe. Samantha Gaunt, as Mercury, was strong, with Shania Eliassen nicely breeching into the role of the Trojan Sailor. Liam Auhl's very smoothly delivered epilogue was very reminiscent of Puck's final monologue and very moving.

The dancers played a number of characters in both acts, blending smoothly with the strong vocal ensemble and adding elegance and atmosphere. There was lovely use of nuance, and like the vocal ensemble, the dancers had a notable sense of character and purpose.

Excellent vocals were smoothly supported by the on-stage mixed consort, under the leadership of music director Geoffrey Lancaster. Harpsichords and strings were supported by a theorbo, lute and archlute. The "horrid musick" specified in the score was supplied by student percussionists.

Costuming co-ordination and construction was in the capable hands of actors Emma Oorschot and Lucy Schneider, with specialist makeup by performers Ema Rose Gosnell and Rebekah Bennet - There was unity and design throughout which belied the lack of budget.

Dido and Aeneas was a top-notch student production with much to admire, and a positive sign for the future of classical voice and dance in Western Australia.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Jon Green.