Threepenny Opera (the lives & loves of Mack the Knife)
20th - 24th October 2009 - Melton Theatre 

Despite the name - this is not an opera! If we had to put it into a category, we'd have to say that it is a musical comedy with elements of pantomime! It’s called The Threepenny Opera because it’s loosely based on the 18th century musical play 'The Beggars Opera'. The action is set in the three days leading up to the Coronation of Queen Victoria. The hero, if that’s the right word, is Macheath (Mack the Knife) - professional criminal, inveterate liar, serial womaniser, and dangerous charmer. Not the sort of chap you would want for a son-in-law, you might think; and that’s certainly what Mr Peachum thinks when he discovers that Macheath has seduced and “married” his daughter Polly. Not that Peachum is a model of rectitude; in fact, he is the boss of an organised begging racket for the whole of London. “Break a leg” might be a theatrical term, but it’s the least of what will happen to you if you try begging in the streets of the city without a licence from Peachum. Peachum and his formidable wife swear revenge on Macheath, and to get it, they exploit his one weakness - women. This is a great musical comedy - with an edge. You'll witness love, deception and revenge. Come along and experience the story behind that famous song 'Mack the Knife'. Read the Melton Times review  HERE