BARBER OF SEVILLE till 11 March

Bristol

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
by Beaumarchais, in a new adaptation by Lee Hall

Bristol Old Vic until 11th March 2006
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2pm
Audio-described 11 March 2pm
BSL Signed 4 March 2pm
Runs 2hr 10min One interval

TICKETS:0117 987 7877
www.bristol-old-vic.co.uk
REVIEW: Stewart McGill, 20 February

Great fun and irreverent
The Spring Season at Bristol Old Vic returns audiences to the, rather neglected, format of farce in Lee Hall’s free adaptation of Beaumarchais' The Barber of Seville. Reflecting the original, this adaptation is strikingly contemporary relocated to a present day Costa Brava hotel site where the variations on characters arrive.

The show is fast paced, irreverent, takes wild stabs at the opera conventions through Chris Larner’s live musical accompaniment and fizzes along with a host of classical comic situations reconfigured to fit the updated concept. Julian Webber directs a multi-talented cast of seven who spin at speed across Beaumarchais landscape. Malcolm Rennie is a delightfully wicked Bartholo, an east end gangster with his delicious Moll, Rosine played Big Brother style by Laura Rogers, Paul M Meston’s Figaro controls and sets up the event with James Garnon’s master of disguise Almaviva.

It’s great fun and sets youth and energy against the greed and sterility of the old… Brian Rix meets Commedia dell’arte in a revival of the, once popular, farce format. It’s not that complete and lacks the intricacies of a Feadeu or Ben Travers but there is no doubting the fun and jollity of the season’s opener – an antidote to the chilly weather outside the theatre and some lovely ensemble playing.

Count Almaviva: James Garnon
Figaro: Paul M Meston
Bartholo: Malcolm Rennie
Rosine: Laura Rogers
Bazille: Chris Larner
Lanky/Notary: Gil Cohen-Alloro
Perky/Alcalde: Adam Baxter.

Director: Julian Webber
Designer: Anthony Macilwaine,
Lighting: Adam Silverman
Sound: Jason Barnes.
Music & Songs: Chris Larner
Costume: Anka Lupes

2006-02-22 09:03:40