Last, but definitely not least, is Die Lustige Witwe herself, Anna Glawari, portrayed with a lovely reality by Elizabeth Beeler.  

Many women who take on this role enter in a cascade of giggles and wear out their welcome rapidly. Not Beeler.  

At first, she actually seems like a young widow, still on the cusp of mourning, wondering what to do with her life. The presence of her old flame Danilo helps her make up her mind rapidly, and it's a joy to watch the way she blossoms.  

Beeler's comic touch is deft and her singing a joy. The way she sings "Vilja," turning a folk tale into a saga of personal longing, is sheer magic.  

But then, so is this whole production of The Merry Widow. Go see it and smile.

LADY IN THE DARK

Canadian Premiere, Toronto Operetta Theatre “Elizabeth Beeler is simply wonderful. She achieves the difficult task of making Liza vulnerable enough so that we can believe she would seek help and be shaken by its revelations, yet tough enough so that we can believe she is a success in the competitive, male dominated world of magazine editing. Beeler gives Liza such a winning personality that her performance alone creates the strong through line the musical needs to link the spoken sections with the musical sequences. She is sassy and sophisticated in the great song “One Life To Live”, she makes the long narrative “The Princess of Pure Delight” a pure delight and gives a knockout performance of “The Saga of Jenny”. …this last deservedly received the loudest and longest round of applause for a single song that I've ever heard in years of attending TOT productions.”

COUNTESS MARITZA

Toronto Operetta Theatre “ in the title role, both looks and convincingly acts the role of a countess…a powerful soprano voice…a finely tuned, expressive instrument even as she soared high above the rest for what seemed like pages at a time …” -Robert Harris, The Globe and Mail, January 2005 “ …a striking stage presence and highly nuanced acting,…a bright, crystalline soprano that shines through ensembles but also gives an air of delicate fragility…Beeler carefully delineates Maritza’s changing attitude from disdain to fascination to love, disappointment and jealousy creating a sympathetic and intriguing character… her ability to communicate conflicting feelings such as in Maritza‘s play-acting at love with Tassilo that give the production its depth.”

LES MISERABLES

Original Toronto Production and International Tour “…as Valjean’s daughter Cosette…an outstanding performance, embodying virginal innocence with her pure soprano…”

THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER

Toronto Opera Theatre “…soprano Elizabeth Beeler as Nadina’s cousin Masha, with her light and charming voice and crystal-clear enunciation were impressive…”

DIE FLEDERMAUS

Toronto Opera Theatre “…well sung, wonderfully stylized and funny as the chambermaid Adele…”

ANYTHING GOES

Reno Sweeney, Drayton Entertainment. “…endowed with a voice straight off Broadway, gives a show stopping performance …”her magnificent voice is positively electrifying-she is simply a joy to watch on stage.”

“…her voice has a professional edge seldom seen…”

Joni Mitchell- WHEN ALL THE SLAVES ARE FREE

“… stands out with her impressive range…”

COLOURS IN THE STORM

“…not only a delight to behold, she has the voice of an angel …“

ROGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN

Salute to Broadway- Elora Festival “…took listeners off guard by…extending her belting glitzy show-bizzy sound into the higher notes and still sound powerful. Something like the immortal Ethyl Merman…she communicated her interpretive gifts to the fullest.“

ASSEMBLYWOMEN

Summerworks “… truly fine, she looks like a young Lucille Ball, deadpans a comedy line with the best of them and has a voice that manages to sound equally impressive whether it’s bel canto or can belt-o. She’s a keeper.”

“Elizabeth Beeler sings spectacularly…”