THE BARBER OF SEVILLE. Director: Sylvaine Strike. Musical Director: Jan Hugo. Chorus Master: Antoinette Huyssen. Cast: Red Cast, led by Thando Zwane, Brittany Smith and Innocent Masuku. At Theatre on the Bay.
MEGAN CHORITZ reviews
There is a kind of ‘fore knowledge’ sometimes in the theatre. It’s before anything starts and you are staring at a gold velvet curtain and you get the magical feeling that soon, when the curtains open, something wonderful is about to happen. It is whimsical, and childlike and expectant, and I had it last night, sitting in the second row of the small (for an opera) Theatre on the Bay, waiting for the start of The Barber of Seville.
The gold curtains finally opened, after a cheeky overture on tiny grand piano performed by the musical director, ‘maestro’ Jan Hugo, who was integrated so charmingly into the action later. And from the first moment, to the end I was filled with delight, and giggles, and awe and shivers of joy and big belly laughs.
Sylvaine Strike is the perfect visionary for this comedic boutique opera. She has spun magic through the CPO and created a tapestry of the cutest, most charming, naughty and brilliantly executed character performances, from the gorgeous leads through to each member of the ridiculously hilarious chorus.
She is supported in her vision by a brilliant set that transforms elegantly from outside to inside by moving a few bits and pieces, and utterly delightful costumes, both designed by Allegra Bernacchioni, and fabulous lighting by Josh Lindberg.
Brilliant!
I take it for granted that the singing will be superb, and it is. There are two casts for the leads, and I saw and heard Thando Zwane as Figaro, Brittany Smith as Rosina, Innocent Masuku as Count Almaviva and Conroy Scott as Bartolo. They were brilliant. Brilliant.
Spending two hours in your seat is long, and I warned my friend to nudge me if I fell asleep – it has been a gruelling week and I have not been much fun, but she didn’t have to nudge me even once. I was wide awake, energised, and giggling throughout, with some big laughs to drown out the man sitting next to me who managed to eat a whole row of wine gums through the second half, and the only noise that drowned out his audible chewing was his fiddling with the plastic wrapping.
I have just heard that the short season is sold out. So, this review is literally just for the pure enjoyment of it all. I loved everything about this production, and I feel like it was the perfect self-care package for me, to lift me out of my misery for a few hours.
What: The Barber of Seville
Where and when: Theatre on the Bay from 5 to 17 August 2025. Both casts of principals are listed on the Webtickets platform as the Red Cast and the Blue Cast
Tickets: Webtickets
WS
