Mounties, Mischief, Manipulation! Vancouver Opera’s season hits its midway point bringing Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, for two more performances, February 12thand 15th.
Rob Herriot makes his Vancouver Opera debut directing this update of the 18h century opera buffa (a comedic genre of opera) composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Conceived by Manitoba Ballet’s Sheldon Johnson, who also designs the set, the scene of the opera shifts from its 18th century origins. Instead, this version of ‘Canuck Cosi’ brings the setting and some updated lyrics to a grand Canadian resort hotel lobby lounge in the middle of the 20th century.
Cosi Fan Tutte finds a pair of comic players – Don Alfonso (Daniel Okulitch) and Despina (Tracy Dahl) – opposite a group of lovers – two sisters, Fiordiligi (Jamie Groote) and Dorabella (Alex Hetherington) and their paramours Guglielmo (Clarence Frazer) and Ferrando (Owen McCausland).
The all-Canadian cast is supported by Tina Chang as Trixie, the lobby pianist and Daniel Curalli as Larry the bartender providing comedic support in pivotal, non-singing roles. Leslie Dala conducts the Vancouver Orchestra and Chorus who fill the hotel with an assortment of bellmen, barflies, and ladies who lunch. Far from just background players, viewers should keep an eye on the humourous vignettes the chorus create in their moments on stage. Costume Designer Donnie Tejani has styled the cast in outfits wonderfully evocative of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Groote and Hetherington especially, glow with the glamour of the period’s stars like Veronica Lake or Lana Turner.
Photo: Emily Cooper.
Beginning the story, Guglielmo and Ferrando are upright Mounties, inspired by the 1950’s film adaptation of the operetta Rose Marie and end up as Lumberjacks inspired by the NFB’s short The Log Driver’s Waltz with a hint of Bob & Doug McKenzie thrown in for comic effect. Having fallen for the sisters, the duo is manipulated by hotelier Don Alfonso, for his own amusement, into testing Fiordiligi and Dorabella’s fidelity. Meanwhile, egged on by Despina, the sisters are also twisted into falling for the trial. Tracy Dahl delivers a stand-out performance with breathtaking vocals and many over-the-top moments that makes sure all eyes are on the diminutive Despina. In addition to Despina’s antics, the audience finds moments to break out in laughter throughout this production, keeping the performance light and brisk.
Vancouver Opera’s Cosi Fan Tutte continues Thursday, February 12 at 7:30pm and Sunday February 15 at 2pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street. Visit vancouveropera.ca for more about the production and tickets