English Mozart scholar Edward J. Dent once dismissed the libretto of The Magic Flute as ‘one of the most absurd specimens of that form of literature in which absurdity is regarded as a matter of course’. Michael Gow’s generally marvellous translation and adaptation of Emanuel Schikaneder’s libretto for Mozart’s final opera (or penultimate opera, depending upon how pedantic you want to be) turns the absurdity of the plot to the work’s advantage by offering a quick-paced adventure in the spirit of Hollywood ‘B’ movies of yesteryear. We are hardly given time to catch our breath and contemplate the unexplained volte-faces. You simply hop on board for the ride and let it take you through its exhilarating twists and turns. Forget logic and enjoy the fun.