CINDERELLA / CENDRILLON REVIEW. Composer and Librettist: Pauline Viardot. Direction and Design: Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer. Musical Director: José Dias. Choreography: Kirsten Isenberg. Cast: Brittany Smith, Alida Scheepers, Tylor Lamani. At Artscape Opera House, Cape Town, until 8 July 2023. BEVERLEY BROMMERT reviews.
Anyone aged between five and 105 who is responsive to the beauty of song and spectacle, amalgamated as they are in Cape Town Opera’s inspired staging of Viardot’s Cendrillon (Cinderella), cannot afford to miss this enchanting chamber opera.
All the imaginative artistry for which A&M Productions is known offsets the vocal proficiency of CTO’s singers, most of whom are currently in top form.
Illusion and magic versus reality, when they clash, generally result in tragedy. When they are artfully wrought together to deliver some transcendental truth about humanity, the outcome is pure joy – which is what makes the centuries-old fairy tale of an abused girl elevated through love to affluence and fulfilment so rewarding.
Exquisite set
An additional source of food for thought is introduced in this reading of Cinderella with the reiterated message that appearances are deceptive; disguises, masks and metaphormoses are used to hide identities in the service of truth, bringing ultimate happiness when recognized.
Philosophy aside, Abrahamse and Meyer’s exquisite set is a feast for the eye as 18th century opulence meets transparent minimalism.
Everything coruscates like Baccarat crystal, from the backdrop of massive mirrors reflecting spectators and drawing them into the action, to perspex furniture, glittering chandeliers, and… Cinderella ‘s jewellery. An intriguing interplay of opacity and translucence conducive to optical illusion, as a pumpkin becomes a carriage, mice become horses, and a scruffy kitchen maid becomes a gleaming belle of the ball.
Costume and prop changes are effected with magical speed before one’s eyes; a compact musical ensemble under skilfull direction from José Dias, visible but never obtrusive in the foreground, delivers ear-pleasing accompaniment to strong vocal performance; and delicately choreographed ballet interludes, courtesy of Kirsten Isenberg, all have their share in creating a fantasy of innocent delight. The participation of child dancers further underscores the youthful joie de vivre incidental to the fun of storytelling.
Astutely cast septet
Then there are the vocalists. Brittany Smith musters the appropriate sparkle as the eponymous heroine, completely at ease in demanding solo arias and complementing a rich rendition from her co-lead Tylor Lamani (Prince Charmant) in the work’s loveliest moments.
Lamani is an engaging prince-in-quest of love, with a sound grasp of his persona and an authoritative approach to the vocal challenges of his role.
Newcomer Alida Scheepers impresses as the Fairy Godmother, particularly as she makes light work of delivering expressive and sometimes lengthy solos while dancing en pointe or spectacularly suspended at a dizzy height from the gods. A beautifully costumed, elegant presence on stage, she also has the elusive quality of a being from another world – in short, ideally cast.
Comedy is yet another key ingredient in this recipe for delicious entertainment, and here Cinderella’s gaudily attired Sisters prove more than capable of eliciting chuckles: grotesquely made up, gawky in their high heels and voluminous skirts, and offensively off-key when singing, Janelle Visagie and Asisipho Petu are delightful in their calculated ineptitude. Both are talented singers of note, and Visagie’s portrayal of the domineering Maguelonne is wittily tongue-in-cheek.
Van Wyk Venter (Barigoule) and Luvo Rasemeni (Pictordu) complete the ensemble of this astutely cast septet who between them deliver all the humour and harshness, selfishness and love, in short, all the elements of this timeless fairy tale.
Bravo to CTO and A&M!
Cinderella tickets range from R180 to R400 through Computicket, or 0214217695. Children of all ages are welcome. Follow @capetownopera on Instagram for regular updates.
Read Beverley Brommert’s interview with ALIDA SCHEEPERS (Fairy Godmother) here.
What: Cape Town Opera Cinderella / Cendrillon Cape Town Opera review
When: 4 to 8 July 2023
Where: Artscape Opera House Cape Town
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