{"id":12065,"date":"2014-06-07T18:07:50","date_gmt":"2014-06-08T01:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=12065"},"modified":"2014-06-07T18:12:27","modified_gmt":"2014-06-08T01:12:27","slug":"the-marriage-of-figaro-by-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-cinnabar-theater-petaluma-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/the-marriage-of-figaro-by-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart-cinnabar-theater-petaluma-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Cinnabar Theater, Petaluma CA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Members, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photos by Eric Chazankin<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Figaro” <\/em><\/strong>Sparkles With Joy and Jubilation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Miguel Evangelista, Bill Neely, Christiaan Smith-Kotlaret (seated), Krista Wigle<\/p><\/div>\n

For openers, Cinnabar Theater\u2019s staging of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart\u2019s<\/strong> iconic comic opera is a pretty show, from the costumes to the set pieces to the performers, and above all, the music. The award-winning Cinnabar is the perfect venue for this production. The theater space is intimate, so you are close enough to the singers, and the orchestra, to really see their faces and know that this is the real deal. No digital effects, no lip-syncing. This is breathing, moving, living talent. The voices and orchestra are superb. But the icing on the cake is that it\u2019s in English, using the 1991 translation by Jeremy Sams<\/strong>, from the original 18th<\/sup>-Century libretto by Mozart\u2019s frequent collaborator Lorenzo Da Ponte<\/strong>. You can fully understand and enjoy all the romantic escapades and sly saucy wit. Mozart\u2019s ecstatic music gives the story wings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kelly Britt, Cary Ann Rosko, Bharati Soman<\/p><\/div>\n

If Figaro<\/em> had been a movie in the 1930s, it never would have made it past the Production Code. It nearly didn\u2019t get presented in 1786 due to all the salacious goings-on, but thankfully it did, and this \u201copera buffa\u201d was immediately declared a masterpiece. The story takes place near Seville, in the palace of a beautiful young couple, the Count and Countess Almaviva. They appear to be having servant trouble, due in no small part to the Count\u2019s roving eye.\u00a0 The Count\u2019s faithful valet, Figaro, and the Countess\u2019 winsome maid, Susanna, are madly in love and are to marry this very day. There are many spicy twists and turns in the romantic plot that conspire to put a halt to their plans for wedded bliss.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kelly Britt<\/p><\/div>\n

In the Cinnabar production, the setting is advanced to the 1920s, in that lull between the World Wars that saw the decline of the era of aristocracy and servitude, and the rise of the commoner.\u00a0 During scene changes, recorded jazz-age music underscores the period. (The Metropolitan Opera in New York will open its 2014-2015 season this September with their own staging of Figaro<\/em>, also set in the 1920s.) The period costumes are correct right down to the undergarments, and the gowns are downright breathtaking. Earlier, costume designer Lisa Eldredge<\/strong> explained the great care taken in her adventure in designing and creating a wardrobe for the entire cast, in many cases from scratch.<\/p>\n

There is a vast difference between musical theatre and opera, which requires absolute perfection in technique from the singers and musicians. Cinnabar\u2019s Figaro<\/em> hits the mark with great beauty and honesty. Innovative staging is by Elly Lichenstein<\/strong> , whose own operatic background as a singer-actor gives her special insight into the unique challenges of such a demanding production.\u00a0 Her direction and attention to detail is artful and inspired.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not often these days that you can watch a North Bay musical performance and find the orchestra completely in tune. Even with the most beautiful musical score, if one musician or singer is off-key, it\u2019s like having a pebble in your shoe when you\u2019re hiking Yosemite. The scenery\u2019s still nice, but it\u2019s spoiled by that little distraction. Cinnabar is the one North Bay theatre company that has the chops to take on music\u2019s greatest challenge \u2013 opera. Recent successes include Tobias Picker\u2019s<\/strong> Emmaline<\/em> from a few seasons back, and last season\u2019s Carmen<\/em>, both impeccably directed by Lichenstein. Figaro<\/em> is destined to join her list of remarkable achievements.<\/p>\n

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Krista Wigle, Eugene Walden, Kelly Britt<\/p><\/div>\n

Baritone Eugene Walden<\/strong> is extraordinary as Figaro. He\u2019s the quintessential everyman who longs for happiness and justice, and he\u2019s willing to challenge those in power to get it. The captivating soprano Kelly Britt<\/strong> plays the role of his intended Susanna, who apparently has bewitched her boss as well. Mezzo-soprano Cary Ann Rosko<\/strong> plays it for slapstick laughs in the traditional \u201ctrouser\u201d role as the goofy, girl-crazy Cherubino, the Count\u2019s page boy. Bharati Soman<\/strong> in the soprano role of the Countess is a tiny wonder, commanding the stage with grace despite her small stature. Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek<\/strong> as the scheming Count Almaviva has a sophisticated baritone and a polished, effective stage presence. Each singer, in turn, performs an aria during the course of the show that would be wonderful even if heard on its own. An example that showcases the ensemble talent is a sextet performed in Act III.\u00a0 \u201cDarling Boy, Let Me Embrace You\u201d weaves a tapestry of notes that mesmerizes the audience. From the lead role to the smallest, the entire cast, including the chorus, is outstanding. The small orchestra is first-class, energetically and flawlessly conducted by Cinnabar Music Director Mary Chun<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

His work may have been commissioned by royalty, but in his heart Mozart composed music to delight the common people. This Marriage<\/em> is loaded with giddy charm and magic, and is a wonderful way to spend a very special evening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When: Now through June 15, 2014 <\/strong><\/p>\n

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays <\/strong><\/p>\n

2 p.m. <\/strong>Sundays<\/strong><\/p>\n

Added performance Wednesday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets: $25 to $40<\/strong><\/p>\n

Location: Cinnabar Theater <\/strong><\/p>\n

3333 Petaluma Blvd North<\/strong>, Petaluma CA<\/strong>
\nPhone: 707-763-8920 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Website: <\/strong>www.cinnabartheater.org<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo Members, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle   Photos by Eric Chazankin   “Figaro” Sparkles With Joy and Jubilation For openers, Cinnabar Theater\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12065","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"