Can Can girls, comedic flourishes, and a spicy plot make 'The Merry Widow' an accessible and thoroughly entertaining ballet.

An adaptation of Franz Lehar’s 1905 romantic operetta of the same name — with choreography by Veronica Paeper and musical adaptation by John Lanchbery — the ballet is performed by the Cape Town City Ballet, with musical accompaniment from the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Allan Stephenson.

'The Merry Widow' follows the romantic trysts of members of the financially-struggling Pontevedrinian embassy in Paris, where the ambassador Baron Mirko Zeta (Mervyn Williams) finds hope in the arrival of Anna Glawari (Elza Leimane) a recently widowed billionairess. He plans to marry her off to his first secretary Danilo Danilovitch (Raimond Martinov) and in doing so, keep her money in Pontevedrinian hands.

While he is preoccupied with setting up the marriage, the buffoonish baron fails to notice that his own wife — the young and charming Valencienne (Laura Bosenberg) — is busy conducting an illicit affair with the French diplomat Camille de Rosillon (Robin van Wyk). Jealousies emerge, tempers flare and (eventually) love triumphs.

The Cape Town City Ballet managed to entice Latvian guest artists Elza Leimane and Raimond Martinov back to South Africa following their successful participation (silver and bronze medallists respectively) in the South African International Ballet Competition earlier this year.

Leimane raises the bar of an already very polished production with her exquisite control and Martinov cuts a dashing figure as the Lothario-esque Danilo with his effortless elegance, impressive elevation and expressive personality. Their pas de deux towards the end of first act has a mesmerising floating quality, while that of the third act is filled with all the sensuality and chemistry of newly-found requited love.

Bosenberg and Van Wyk compliment the leads effectively with their playful and flirtatious performances. Special mention must also go to Euclid Gertse and Stanislav Tchalov who provide endless entertainment with their comedic performances.

Sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes and a slick performance from the corps de ballet, ensure that 'The Merry Widow' is an enchanting production.

'The Merry Widow' runs at the Artscape Opera House from 10 to 25 May. Cape Town City Ballet's principal ballerina Megan Swart will alternate the role of Anna Glawari with Elza Leimane (partnered by Martinov). Kerryn Howard and Emmerich Schmollgruber will also share the leading roles. Bookings can be made through Computicket or Artscape’s Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695.