Production of Joe Hill Gibbins' Figaro marriage was held at the Coliseum in March 2020. And, like everything else in the UK, it was quickly closed. Five years later, with an almost completely different cast, they were finally set to the full run worthy of this funny show.
You will see in vain many of the tensions on the second floor stairs that made Mozart's opera, and it was based, since in 1786 a violent revolution was turning the corner, so it was based. So it was edgy. It's a loss, but in this multifaceted opera it doesn't break the contract. Instead, the Hilgibbins focus on the web of alliances that shift with individual characters.
The Johannes Schutz set is a long rectangular box with four white doors, rising for scenes in the Countess' room, and for the garden act lit by Matthew Richardson, illuminated by neon wonders. I'll retreat to. On the one hand, it is a stylish and simple frame that focuses attention on the character. Meanwhile, we may be in a farce in the hallways of the hotel. You never know who is waiting behind a closed door or hiding behind a wide open door, but why is it so scandalous that two characters are caught here alone? mosquito?
Still, if there is little sense of claustrophobia or intimacy around you, the cast will provide it in a way that stands next to each other. Embarrassment. And the land of Jokes is largely thanks to the clarity that most people deliver a dappy translation of Jeremy Sams' scripts.
Conductor Ainar Ruby, who debuted at his house, has moments when the music is growing more resilient and never returns to form at all, but the orchestra sounds warm and fleet-like. The cast is led by the almost bullish Susanna of David Ireland's upset Figaro and Mary Bevan. Both are sung in style. With an English accent, part of one of Brilingdon's Victor Meldrew, the US baritone Cody Quattlebaum captures all count qualifications, but his song lines are uneven There is, some syllables are lost. Hanna Hipp is Sparky Cherubino and her Lovestruck songs are a dreamy, stupid set of works with their own little dance routines. The supporting cast is strong, and Star Wart's Neil Davis and Rebecca Evans are well matched as Bartolo and Marcelly, Hubert Francis, Wide Boy Basilio, Avadod as Barbarina, all Micromini and Instagram faces.
Carrying itself like a swan among so many seagulls, Narudas Williams Bevan brings her closer in the final act, but once again in a glorious voice as Countess, the heart of her two Arias' shining center of gravity. It's not an easy piece to love, but it's easy to enjoy.
