It's no surprise Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Magic Flute will be playing a different tune when it returns home next week.

Since its local debut in Oct. 2003, Mark Godden's cheeky charmer has not only received international recognition -- with principal dancer Jaime Vargas earning a prestigious Benois de la Danse nod in Moscow for his role as romantic hero Tamino -- but has made a huge splash on our side of the sea with last year's Gemini Award-winning movie adapt.

Such experiences (along with cast and choreography tweaking) have allowed the company to take the risque rom-com a step further. Or in first soloist Johnny Wright's case, a step naughtier.

"I'm trying to approach it in a new and very exciting way," says Wright, who plays Tamino when Flute hits the Concert hall Wednesday. Instead of only pursuing young princess Pamina (first soloist CindyMarie Small) as per tradition, he'll also be chasing a boyish fantasy with Queen of the Night (principal dancer Tara Birtwhistle).

"She is seducing me in a much more greater way, kind of like Mrs. Robinson from The Graduate," he quips.

Lusty relations have always been a part of Godden's take on Mozart's 18th opera, mainly stemming from another frisky male character, Papageno (second soloist Yosuke Mino), who's seen with up to four women on stage at once.

"One of the things about Papageno -- in the opera he's a bird catcher, in my production he's a womanizer," says Godden, also the man behind RWB product Dracula. "He's looking for a wife but he also just loves women."

What also hasn't changed is Flute's puzzling plot. With so many characters and storylines, and an instrument with an uncertain significance, even Godden is confused.

His only advice? Know that the story essentially revolves around three couples (see box at right for more plot info), and let the "infectious" soundtrack speak for them.

"Mozart has somehow made sense out of all these different characters," says Godden, whose eternal love for the music lured him into choreographing such a complex plot. "As long as the music's on, you don't seem to get bogged down by the details."

That also goes for the film version, a magical 50-minute cut of the 120-minute ballet produced locally by Vonnie Von Helmolt and Merit Jensen Carr. It aired on CBC in February '06 and its claim to fame came in August when it scored two Gemini noms for best photography and best performing arts ensemble. It won the latter prize.

Wright -- who's now kicking himself for not attending the Geminis last fall -- says both Flute and previous ballet-turned-flick Dracula (directed by Guy Maddin) mark the beginning of a beautiful friendship. "I think we're part of pioneering what dance can be with film, and where it can go."

See Flute in the flesh at its homecoming next week. Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra take their spot in the pit. Tickets cost $26 - $68 at Ticketmaster.

Flute for Dummies

The Magic Flute is crazy-confusing. Its plot is dense, the flute's meaning is vague and for cryin' out loud, every character's name sounds the same.

Here's a basic look at how the adult fairy tale with many, many twists breaks down:

- The story centres around three couples: Feuding parental figures Sarastro and Queen of the Night, young romantics Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina, and lady's man Papageno and his potential sweetie Papagena.

- The flute was made from an oak tree that got hit by lightning.

- As the story goes, Queen of the Night sends Tamino on a mission to rescue her daughter, Pamina, who's being held captive by Sarastro -- aka her dad. Tamino meets up with Papageno, and three lovely glamazons (like fairies) give them a flute that helps both men win their mates. As for Sarastro and Queen of the Night -- well, we wouldn't want to spoil it for you.