THE heady days of Paris in the early 20th Century will be recreated on the Malvern stage in the musical The Merry Widow.
Written by Franz Lehar, the show follows the fortunes of Hanna, a rich and glamorous widow with her sights set on finding a man in the decadent dance halls of the Moulin Rouge and Maxims.
When her first love, the handsome young Danilo, arrives unexpectedly on the scene, buried passions are re-ignited and a tempestuous test of love and betrayal is set into motion.
When the play was first published it was considered so controversial that Franz Lehar was offered 5,000 crowns to burn it.
He refused and the play has gone on to enjoy success for nearly 100 years, from a variety of productions to three film adaptations.
This production, by the Carl Rosa company, features a young cast of 24 singers, dynamic choreography and a full orchestra.
Leading roles will be played by Jan Hartley, last seen in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Showboat, who plays Hanna, and Victor Spinetti, who recently appeared in the West End in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as Baron Zeta.
The Carl Rosa Opera Company was relaunched in 1997 by Peter Mulloy and Wyn Davies and has built up a reputation nationally and internationally for its productions, which include HMS Pinafore, The Mikado and The Gondoliers, all of which visited Malvern Theatres.
The Merry Widow will open at the Festival Theatre on September 27 and runs until October 2.
Tickets cost from £16 to £22 and are available on 01684 892277.
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