POOR Madame Butterfly. The Japanese geisha waits for her American navy husband's return. Faithful and trusting, bringing up his child, she doesn't waver in her belief in him. But three years later he comes back, with an American wife, and hopes to take his son home to the US. Her only escape from her despair, shunned by family and sinking into poverty, is her father's knife.

It was Puccini's favourite opera and its moving tale of courage, hope and betrayal is a famous story, littered with famous tunes.

It was on the menu at the Dormy House Hotel in Broadway on Saturday, at one of its popular annual opera evenings, which has drawn a faithful crowd of music lovers for nine years.

This time, Curtain Call Productions was treating guests to Madame Butterfly in the banqueting hall, where the £65 ticket also bought some cocktails and canapes, a seat at a charmingly decorated table and a two-course supper in the interval. A black tie formality, requested by the regulars, also added to the special occasion feeling.

The small stage had almost 100 diners seated on three sides, providing an up-close-and-personal - and interesting - way to experience what is normally such a grandiose affair. Devoid of the usual full orchestra, extravagant sets and army of cast, it was left to a total of 11 singers and a single hard-working pianist (with a recording of the humming chorus) to put across all the passions of the story of sweet Cio-Cio-San.

'Go and see an opera' was on my things-to-do list and although I left feeling that I hadn't quite yet struck it off, I now know all about Madame Butterfly and I'm keen to learn more.

REVIEW BY CAROLYN MORRIS