Blog
November 30th 2009 | 1
The Barber of Seville
Manitoba Opera kicked off it’s 35th season last week with it’s presentation of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, and made the opera scene in Winnipeg proud. The epic comedy, directed by David Gately, follows the story of Count Almaviva (Victor Ryan Robertson), who falls in love with Rosina (Nikki Einfeld), who is being held captive by her much older guardian Dr. Bartolo (the brilliant Peter Strummer). Almaviva enlists the help of jack-of-all-trades Figaro (a pitch-perfect James Westman) to try and steal her away from Bartolo, and of course, comedy ensues.
James Westman’s comic timing of Figaro carries the show from the first scene to the last. His tongue-and-cheek reactions, asides to the audience, and whip-crack witticisms make every scene he’s in a joy to behold. Not to be outdone is the brilliant Peter Strummer, who’s embodiment of the ever testy and boorish Bartolo is a perfect match that would make Rossini himself sing praises. As Figaro helps Almaviva with his plan to not only steal Rosina away from Bartolo, but to test her to be sure she loves him and not just his youth and money, the ever suspicious Bartolo is never more than a step behind them. Rossini’s perfect combination of side-splitting slapstick antics, sharp witticisms and cultural satire speaks to the play’s enduring timeless comedic brilliance, a structure which in many ways provided the blueprint for twentieth century comedy, from Groucho Marx to Bugs Bunny. Adding to the mix is the music, composed by Rossini and adequately executed by the actors (led by Westman’s commanding baritone), conductor Tadeusz Biernacki and his orchestra, as well as the gorgeous revolving setpiece.
Manitoba Opera, who doesn’t receive nearly enough praise as it should, deserves a standing ovation for a job done to perfection in mounting Barber. Bravo.
4 and a 1/2 out of 5 stars
Discussion
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I loved the modern influences added to the opera. While discussing underwear, one of the characters broke from the Italian to say “froot-a of the loom” which got the audience chuckling.
But it was the slow-motion fight scene that made us laugh the most. With a herd of army men coagulated on stage, there was actually too much action to take in with one viewing. Punches were thrown, bodies were tossed and groins were assaulted in a chaotic, yet exquisitely choreographed brawl.– Andrew McMonagle | December 7th 2009 at 11:42am | Link
