SOSA and STCSA Co-Production of Bernstein's 'Candide' Described as 'The Best of all Possible Performances' and 'The Finest Music Theatre Seen in this City for Years'

From Thursday 23–Saturday 25 May, State Opera South Australia, State Theatre Company South Australia, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, State Opera Chorus, and the Elder Conservatorium brought Leonard Bernstein's beloved comic operetta Candide to life in four spectacular performances at Her Majesty's Theatre.

A huge congratulations to recent Bachelor of Music Theatre graduate Taylah Johns (who made her professional debut as Paquette), and 44 of our current Music Theatre students, who augmented this city-wide collaboration as part of a new work-integrated learning program. A special thanks to our entire Music Theatre faculty for all their support and hard work, and to the exceptional creative team who brought it all together: Co-Director Mitchell Butell, Co-Director and Choreographer Amy Campbell, Conductor Anthony Hunt, Set Realiser Ailsa Paterson, Costume Designer Brendan De La Hay, and Lighting Designer Gavin Norris. Below is a selection of quotes from the many outstanding reviews. Bravo to all involved!

'In a rare bringing together of top-class theatrical and musical talent, State Opera South Australia and State Theatre Company South Australia's Candide is an absolute scorcher. [...] This Adelaide production, jointly put on by State Opera South Australia and the State Theatre Company of South Australia [...] is dazzling. The amount of talent and experience these two flagship arts companies bring to bear is phenomenal, and it only came about by coincidence. [...] The cast is tremendous right down the list, with Taylah Johns as Paquette and Michaela Burger, Rosie Hosking, Ezra Juanta and Rod Schultz taking other minor roles. Each puts in top performances, and the combination of them all produces the finest music theatre seen in this city in years. [...] At the rear, the State Opera Chorus, augmented by students from the Elder Conservatorium, were full of verve and never skipped a beat. [...] Bernstein gives us lots to party about in Candide, and this production is an absolute stonker.'

– Graham Strahle, InReview

'It takes 2 ½ hours, 11 principal artists, a State Opera chorus of 30 augmented by 44 students from the undergraduate Music Theatre course at Elder Conservatorium, not to mention a fine conductor and his magnificent 44-piece orchestra to get that hapless lad Candide sorted out. [...] It takes ingenuity and courage to wrangle this orchestrally-heavy piece into theatrically satisfying vignettes which keep us watching and listening to the actors instead of focussing on the orchestra in the room. Butel and Campbell have succeeded brilliantly in this, aided by Anthony Hunt's nuanced dynamics and spot-on tempi. [...] Taylah Johns is a relative theatrical newcomer, having graduated last year from Elder Conservatorium's Music Theatre course. Her performance of coquettish Paquette is lively and personable. She sings, acts and inhabits each scene with confident energy and grace. This is the beginning of a career to watch. [...] In a night filled with colour and movement, glorious orchestral playing, magnificent singing and acting, choral excellence and design brilliance of both costumes and lighting, this combined production of two of our flagship performance arts companies is sheer entertainment at a very high level indeed. Bravo!'

– Pat Wilson, Glam Adelaide (five stars)


'The closing "Make Our Garden Grow" is surely among the most radiant music anywhere, and the involvement of students from the Elder Conservatorium in a surround-sound performance of this magnificent, moving finale was a masterstroke.'

– Peter Burdon, The Advertiser (4 and a ½ stars)

'There is hardly a misfire when it comes to casting.'
– Brett Allen-Bayes, Limelight (4 and a ½ stars)


'I will state, up-front, that this is the best of all possible performances and you should rush to buy tickets. [...] Paquette is portrayed by newcomer, Taylah Johns, who impresses in the role, making Paquette vivacious, cheeky, confident, assuredly capable of getting her own way with the men she encounters. Her career will be worth watching as I am sure that she'll go far. [...] The downside to this production is that there are only four performances. It deserves a longer run. It should tour to other states. Those poor unfortunate souls should have the opportunity to see the sort of high-quality entertainment that we get to enjoy in Adelaide.'

– Barry Lenny, Broadway World

'... a spectacle of absurdity, colour and brilliance. It's so hard to know where to start with reviewing this performance because there are so many noteworthy aspects to mention. [...] This joint production of Candide is massive. The chorus spread across the entire back of the stage in two rows. In Candide, the 30-strong State Opera Chorus is supplemented by 40 students from the Elder Conservatorium of Music as part of their work-integrated learning program. [...] There is a lot of humour in this production of Candide and you will leave Her Majesty's Theatre with your cup full. This production of Candide is an absolute must-see. It may well be the best of all possible shows.'

– Matilda Marseillaise (5 stars)
 

The 2024 Graduating Class and first-year Bachelor of Music Theatre students of the Elder Conservatorium will present Jesus Christ Superstar at the University of Adelaide's Scott Theatre from Friday 26–Sunday 29 September 2024.

BOOK TICKETS