The Barber of Seville (or Salisbury)

Synopsis

The Barber of Seville has been transported to Jane Austen’s England, a world of rich, eligible bachelors, feisty heroines and snobbish relations familiar from much-loved BBC costume dramas. Obsequious Doctor Bartleby has designs on his ward Rosina, but she is far more interested in the attentions of a handsome stranger (actually a womanising Count in disguise). The whole affair is stage-managed by Figaro, the barber who knows everyone’s business and can fix your hair and love life with ease.

Our Review:

15 October 2010

OperaUpClose’s  La bohème was always going to be a hard act to follow.  The problem with their new Barber of Seville is that, unlike the Puccini which came out new-minted, there’s nothing to distinguish it from all the other budget productions of Rossini’s comedy out there.  

Director Robin Norton-Hale’s version of the text, which sets the opera in Jane Austen’s England, is witty and fluent but is let down by poor production values.  

Patron Jonathan Miller, at a pre-performance launch event for London’s latest opera house, suggested that opera doesn’t always need sets or costumes and a little Peter Brook-style austerity wouldn’t have gone amiss here.

A period setting without sufficient budget to do it justice too easily looks like theatrical tat and this is close to village hall G&S.  It’s as well that musical standards are high and there&...

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Latest User Review

marco - 10 November 2010:

How can they actually present something like this with no shame/embarassment? And actually on their website do such a flashy sugar coated introduction with a clean conscience? Worse scenography than a middle school play, for 15 pounds they could make it look acceptable since the music is mutilated to a piano. And what are you left with? I actually thought I was having a dream, a bad one, throughout the performance. And just because its 'upclose' doesn't mean making all characters seem like clowns/cartoons....

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