In 1740 Handel was at a crossroads – he had suffered a bout of ill health (possibly a stroke), his last opera had been a flop and his theatre company had been poached away by his star singer, who was now putting on rival productions in the theatre Handel had used to stage his own work.
At a crossroads too was actress Susannah Cibber whose abusive ex husband had mounted a court case against her which effectively trashed her reputation and left her with no hope of working on the London stage again.
Add into the mix Charles Jennens, in mourning for his younger brother and at odds with both the political establishment and the religious movement of the day whom he held responsible for Robert’s suicide, and yet with a talent for writing great librettos.
Then Handel got a commission from Dublin, and everything changed for all of them.
With humour, pathos and plenty of port – plus live music from Hattie Bennett’s String Quartet (*), and three of Christina Johnston’s fabulous students performing extracts from the oratorio – this is a production not to be missed.
And the local link? Handel loved to travel into the countryside.
I like to think he came to Suffolk for inspiration……
The Coming of Messiah by Suzanne Hawkes is on tour at the following venues:
- Two Sisters Arts Centre 24th/25th/27th March 7.30pm
- St Mary’s Church, Bucklesham 28th March 3pm
- St Peter & St Paul Church, Old Felixstowe 29th March 3pm
- St Peter on The Waterfront, Ipswich 1st April 7.30pm
- St Botolph Church, Culpho 4th April 7.30pm
- Harvest House, Felixstowe 5th April 3pm
Tickets £15/£13 01394 279613
www.ticketsource.co.uk/black-white-productions
*27th 28th & 29th performances the Quartet music will be recorded and not live
SUFFOLK THEATRE 