A letter has arrived at the Berlin home of the Mendelssohns and it announces that Queen Victoria’s favourite tune is “L’Italien” composed by Fanny but misappropriated by her brother Felix.  This appears factual but the play will take off in a delightful fantasy journey to London to meet the Queen with Clara Schumann (Jade May Lin) and Fanny disguised as young men.  They are pursued by Felix and his Mama.

In Act Two the frivolity begins on a train ride, and on arriving at the port the Boatman (Harry Kershaw) explains that his joke is a visual rhyme and says, “Everyone’s a critic!”  Fanny and Clara, pretending to be men, are almost sussed by a landlady (Kim Ismay).  There is wonderful audience participation when Fanny with baton, conducting an orchestra, coaches an audience member to ring a bell at a special moment in the music.  The rest of the audience contribute a rising crescendo.  Charlie Russell adlibs and has a magical rapport with the audience in this comedic romp.   She is a natural. Both Charlie Russell and Harry Kershaw are alumni of Mischief Theatre, responsible for The Play That Went Wrong  and other spoof hit productions.