We people of the North have long ago realised that the only way to deal with weather as bad as last night's is to take on frequent sustenance. That's why things like Elevenses and High Teas were invented.

In the South, in places like Lichfield, they've not yet got this message. So we couldn't find anywhere to get something to eat before the opera. Rumour has it that Lichfield's greatest sons, Garrick and Dr Johnson, left the city not to advance themselves, but in the hope of finding a decent pre-theatre snack.

Captivated within minutes
I faced Swansea City Opera's performance of Donizetti's The Daughter of the Regiment on an empty stomach (well, bar a bag of crisps and half a square of millionaire's shortbread). Only someone with full liver failure could have viewed it with a more jaundiced eye.

And I was captivated within minutes.

The opera tells the story of Marie, a vivandiere, a nineteenth century soldiers' groupie who acted as a cross between Florence Nightingale and a St Bernard (nice bit of business when she serves the solders rum from her drum). This one turns out to be the daughter of a countess but still gets to marry her captain.

Michaela Bloom played Marie. On her entry, Sulpice – a fine bit of comic acting and singing from Brendan Wheatley – remarks; "Isn't she lovely?" and we could only agree. She has the looks, the voice, and she can act. What's to stop her going far?

Downsizing
Swansea City Opera's touring arm often performs in smaller venues, and places which don't normally get opera, so the orchestra is reduced to a sextet, ably urged on by Philip Sunderland. Making a virtue of necessity, the set and costumes are brilliantly cut down to cartoons (take a bow, Gary McCann and Gabriella Ingham). I'm sure it's all not exactly as Donizetti wrote it, but I'm equally sure the spirit and tone are exactly as he would have wished.

So where were you, opera lovers? The Lichfield Garrick was barely half full for the only chance you're likely to get in years to see this unusual but entertaining opera. I can't wait to see what Swansea City Opera will bring tonight to another relative rarity – a tragedy this time, Bizet's The Pearl Fishers.

You should be there. But bring your sandwiches, eh?

Chris Ramsden