The Magic Flute is an enchanting spectacle. A Mozart libretto sung in English, the characters explore themes of justice, love, and duty – albeit within a Masonic context.

For the first time viewer in 2016, a plot that paints the hero and heroine's induction into an enlightenment cult as a happy ending, may be a hard sell, especially given the perpetuation of values and ideals so jarringly outdated with regards to treatment of women and race.

But as a 200-year-old fairytale and pantomime, with dark comedic elements, an audience can suspend disbelief and take it for what it is.

The production is cleverly designed, beautifully executed and wonderfully staged.

The audience ooohs, aaahs, and laughs during the opera’s opener – a saucy scene where we meet some of the production's standout performers: Randall Bills as Tamino, and Amelia Berry, Catrin Johnsson and Kristin Darragh as the delightfully wicked women who do the bidding of the infamous Queen of the Night.

Ruth Jenkins-Robertsson has larger-than-life hair and costuming in her role as Queen of the Night, and tackles the opera’s most famous aria. She delivers an admirable performance, although seems a little out of breath during the climatic heights of the aforementioned piece.

As Sarastro, Wade Kernot similarly seemed to struggle with the most demanding ends of the scale.

It felt as though when they extended themselves to thrill us with the limits of the human voice, they missed the mark.

As female lead Pamina, Emma Fraser is perfection. Her voice is angelic, and she has the audience with her through every aria. Comic lead Papageno, played by Samuel Dudas, is also a crowd-pleaser, proving both hilarious and impressive and delivering some of the biggest laughs, witty lines, and most entertaining songs.

With New Zealand Opera’s interpretation of The Magic Flute, it’s the clever staging and design draw you into the tale – with puppetry, large set pieces, and lighting magic to capture the imagination of theatre-goers. Elizabeth Whiting and John Verryt lead the design team, producing a look that is both modern, and true to the essence of the piece making for a superb, yet earthbound, night at the opera.

Hannah Bartlett is Newstalk ZB's arts reporter