​A top-shelf cast ensues little is lost in a stripped-back staging of Gilbert and Sullivan's rollicking melodrama.

Nina Korbe in the role of Mabel, the Major General’s daughter, is stunning. She sings her heart out, moves with grace and her powerful high notes have extraordinary power.

Korbe’s glorious coloratura soprano managed the trills and arpeggios of Mabel’s ‘Poor Wand’ring One!’ to great effect, demonstrating Sullivan’s input of grand opera into the work. She made a delightful and beautiful Mabel while her onstage chemistry with Frederic was completely believable.      

However, we cannot forget, Billy Bourchier as Frederic and Nina Korbe as Mabel, both shinning stars in this production. Vocally, they were faultless, Korbe had some incredible high notes throughout the show and hit them on turn without wavering everytime. A true testament to their talent and experience, and Bourchier's bubble and energetic portrayal of the lead was astounding to watch. The way they jumped, ran and bounced all across the stage whilst singing in opera was a true delight to watch. 

[Bourchier's] chemistry with Korbe as Mabel is one of the show’s most memorable aspects, especially as they join together in harmony, in for example, Act Two’s exquisite  ‘Stay, Fred’ric, Stay’ and ‘Ah, Leave Me Not to Pine Alone and Desolate’ ... Korbe is visually and vocally stunning at Mabel. The award-winning First Nations soprano brings charm to her role as the Major-General’s headstrong daughter, making her more than just a sweet or shy ingénue and filling the stage with her presence. And her operatic voice simply soars in a brilliant ‘Poor Wand’ring One’ initial offer to Mabel’s pity to Frederick before the two quickly fall in love.

Billy Bourchier plays the romantic hero Frederic to a tee and shares good chemistry with the beautiful Mabel, played by Nina Korbe. The duo sound heavenly when working in harmony. Korbe demonstrates jaw-dropping, elaborately ornamented singing and hits some astoundingly high notes with flair.