Reviews

Madam Butterfly (Tour-Tobacco Factory)

”Madam Butterfly” is a tremendous musical treat at the Tobacco Factory.

Anyone who sees Madam Butterfl at the Tobacco Factory over the next couple of weeks is in for a tremendous musical treat.

Madame Butterfly
Madam Butterfly
© Mia Creatives

The opera tells the story of Cio-Cio-San who is better known as Madam Butterfly and who was wonderfully and dramatically played last night by Stephanie Corley. She is a young geisha girl, who has fallen for Lieutenant Pinkerton – strongly played by John Pierce – a suave America naval officer. Giving up all she has, she marries him, only for Pinkerton to then abandon her to return to the USA.

Left alone for three years bringing up their son, she patiently waits, believing her husband will return to her. She has no food or money and the servants have all deserted her except for one faithful maidservant, Suzuki – beautifully played by Miranda Westcott. But when her husband finally returns, her hopes for their future together are cruelly dashed as he brings with him his wife from the USA. They want to take her son back to the States with them.

Madam Butterfly is probably Puccini’s most popular opera. It appeals to all the senses – a good love story cleverly woven into a play that touches the deepest feelings and lights up the imagination.

The music so well played by the 13 piece orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Lyness was enchanting and told the story hauntingly and beautifully. Getting the balance between singers and orchestra right is never an easy job in a place like the Tobacco Factory, but in my opinion they come pretty close in this production.

The set and costumes are simple but very effective and manage to create just the right ambience and set the mood with some clever lighting. One thing to be mentioned is the puppet baby made by Mark Parrot. This little puppet endears itself to the audience and after the first couple of minutes when it comes on stage, your imagination takes over, and you can really believe in it. Well done for the creation and operation of this,

All the soloists are exceptionally good as you would expect, but I have to say the Corley’s interpretation of the title role is outstanding. She sings with strength and feeling, but also manages to make the delicacy of Butterfly and the poignancy of the story shine through – a very moving performance.

I would also like to make a mention of Craig Smith who plays Sharpless – the American Consul with sympathy and feeling and manages to portray his sympathy and admiration for Madam Butterfly while still managing to keep his distance from the situation/

All in all I would class this as an excellent evening’s entertainment and would advise anyone who can to go and see it.

Madam Butterfly runs at the Tobacco Factory until the 25th October