IN this imaginative production by the Carl Rosa Opera, the Russian Prince Orlofsky (Beverley Klein) provided an English-spoken rhyming commentary on the plot, while the music was sung in its original German.

The Overture, a pot-pouri of tunes to be heard later, is dominated by the opera's famous lilting waltz. The accomplished musicians of the orchestra, directed by Wyn Davies, revelled in the beautifully melodic music, and placed the many rubatos perfectly; they played with a delicate finesse throughout the performance.

A strong cast, headed by Rosalinde (Marilyn Hill Smith) and her husband Gabriel Von Eisenstein (Alan Beck), were all as fine actors as they were singers, and many touches of flirtatious humour enhanced the characters' interaction.

Adele (Louise Walsh) teased Eisenstein, he employer, outrageously in a very spirited Mein Herr Marquis. Rosalinde's Csardas had a magnetic quality, complemented by her wonderful costume of disguise including a fabulous head-dress of peacock feathers. The whole ensemble was costumed in designs based on the original ones of 1874, and were lively to view from any angle.

Choreography was exact, and excellently timed.

A team of scene-shifters made light work of transforming the set, by ingeniously rotating various sections.

The melodrama, engineered by Falke 'The Bat' (Philip O'Brien) gradually unfolded through enchanting music, familiar to most ears.

This is delightful entertainment, directed by Peter Mulloy, which continues until Saturday, December 30.

JILL HOPKINS