A colourful spectacle that didn’t quite hit home

I’m going to begin this by stating honestly: this is my first time watching an opera. I’m not very knowledgeable on the ins-and-outs, crescendos and diminuendos that these particular types of musical dramas usually call for, but here is my take on Barefoot Opera’s La Cenerentola. 

Drawing inspiration from the classic fairy tale Cendrillon (or as most of us know it, Cinderella), La Cenerentola tells the tale of a young woman compelled to serve her cruel stepfather and unappreciative stepsisters as a lowly servant. Meanwhile, Prince Ramiro embarks on a quest to discover the most beautiful woman in the kingdom to be his future wife.

Barefoot Opera is renowned for their physicalized ensemble storytelling and integrated music-making. In their modern adaptation of Rossini’s classic comic tale, they have transformed the drama into a vibrant spectacle. The story follows Cinderella, now called Angelina (Rachel Deatherage), who wins Prince Ramino’s heart (James Beddoe) through her kindness. Angelina’s step-sisters, driven by greed and vanity, are portrayed as beauty-obsessed wannabe influencers, completely immersed in social media and showing little compassion for their unfortunate sister. Their father, even more malevolent than his children, encourages Tisbe and Clorinda in their relentless pursuit of the Prince.

Meanwhile, the Prince and his servant, Dandini, cleverly switch roles to gain insights into the family’s true nature and enhance the Prince’s chances of finding a suitable wife. The adaptation presents a colourful and contemporary reimagining of the beloved tale.

The Arcola, being a fairly intimate venue, suits a small company nicely. However, with this being such a bold and expressive production, I couldn’t help but feel that the stage occasionally felt overcrowded, and perhaps a slightly larger space might have been more suitable.

Without a doubt, the performers displayed exceptional talent, boasting vocal ranges that most of us could only dream of posessing. The entire company effortlessly delivered their songs with soaring vocals. Deatherage’s portrayal of Angelina was heartwarming, exuding vulnerability while showcasing strength through her virtue and morality. Her initial encounter with the prince was filled with hope and joy, and Beddoe charmed the audience with his modest and well-mannered prince in disguise.

Jessica Wise as Clorinda and Elora Ledger as Tisbe demonstrated remarkable vocal talents as the stepsisters. Their portrayals were fittingly detestable, self-centred, and bratty, effectively capturing the essence of their characters. Together, they formed a seamless duo, delivering comedic moments that brought grins (and a few looks of horror) to the audience’s faces.

Denver M Smith exuded undeniable stage presence in his role as Don Magnifico, while Toki Homano skillfully juggled the stepsisters as he played the Prince’s trusty servant, Dandini, with skill and finesse.

Jane Bruce’s set design is an intriguing mix of neon elements, including a catherine-wheel adorned with lights that create a mesmerising swirling effect reminiscent of dream sequences from cartoons. Additionally, a throne and a hoop are incorporated into the set. While these set pieces are interesting to behold, I’m not quite sure what the relevance of the items had within the tale, and they appear somewhat out of place. 

The costume design (Natasha Stolle) was similarly garish, but more fitting for the piece. I particularly enjoyed Angelina’s ball gown, made of a collection of recycled items, along with the accompanying veiled headpiece. 

The vocal talent was undoubtedly impressive, but I personally found the acting to be a bit too exaggerated. Maybe I’m not just not an opera person, and it could be a matter of personal taste. While many audience members seemed to enjoy it, I did notice one person nodding off. If you’re an opera enthusiast, I would suggest giving this unique adaptation of a classic story a try. Additionally, if you’re like me and looking to explore different theatre experiences, taking a chance on it might open up new horizons for you; you might enjoy it more than I did.