• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Ed Fringe

Don Giovanni- Tricycle Theatre

July 13, 2015 by Verity Healey Leave a Comment

Review of: Don Giovanni

Reviewed by: Verity Healey
Rating:
3
On July 13, 2015
Last modified:July 13, 2015

Summary:

Celebratory and funny, a gentle introduction to Mozart’s Don Giovanni

More Details

Mozart’s Don Giovanni is a romp of immorality with its story of a fictional libertine and seducer. South Africa’s The Darling Music Experience offering “Alla Breve” (Opera in the brief, invented by Dr.  Christoph Preiser) directed by Raimondo van Staden, is no less that, despite its shaving down to 90 minutes, with pianist accompaniment (Dr Lisa Engelbrecht) and 7 singers playing 8 characters. This is Don Giovanni for all ages and all backgrounds of SA, a nation with 11 official languages and many cultural groups.

Screen Shot 2015-07-08 at 14.15.12

Here it is reimagined as if from Leporello’s point of view: he introduces, in English and Afrikaans, the various characters and tells us of Don Giovanni’s  rape of Donna Anna and the murder of her father the Commendatore, as if presenting an informal news channel. There are none of the usual luscious machinations that come with such works, the first horrific scene is also cut. Instead, the presentation is sit com esque, performers are on hard chairs as if starring in a community version of Blind Date rather than “a work without blemish, of uninterrupted perfection.” (Charles Gounod)

The effect is to highlight the wit (Don Ottavio weakly producing a gun, emphasising class perhaps, brings out a laugh)  rather than its sweeping power and large scale grandeur and the feeling is one of celebration rather than vengeful redemption over Don Giovanni’s descending into hell: the moments where the cast strut their line dancing at Zerlina’s wedding and at the end are a nice twist.  Sometimes it does suffer thematically. One misses the terrible sense of isolation that Don Giovanni finds himself in at the opera’s denouement, and Johannes Slabbert plays the anti hero so affectionately, with Donna Anna seemingly unaware of what has been done to her and with no real awareness of her rapist, with its traumatic consequences for them strangely unhighlighted, that we can have nothing but empathy for the seducer.  Leporello is less of a foil and more of an anxious friend watching his best mate descend into further trouble. Neither can we feel fear at Martin Mhkize’s back from the dead Commendatore, donning Donna Anna’s dangerous red cloak and holding a statue up to his face, there is not attempt to give a sense of the super natural. It isn’t dramma giocoso, a mix of serious and comic action but more just comic action.

The overall affect of Alle Breve is make the opera feel slightly uneven and to glaze over its more serious themes. But the singers, all with perfect enunciation, are a joy to listen to: Amanda Meke’s cheeky Zerlina shines in particular, as does Johannes Slabbert’s easy and big voiced Don Giovanni. And there is a certain intimate warmth and passion that is often missing in the bigger Opera House productions.

Celebratory and funny, this is a gentle introduction to Mozart’s Don Giovanni for first timers.

Don Giovanni has finished its run at Tricycle Theatre but see their website for further details

cast includes: Johannes Slabbert, Raimondo van Staden, Goitsemang Lehobye, Maudee Montierre, Amanda Meke, Martin Mhkize, Makudupanyane Senaoana

directed by: Raimondo van Staden

musical director & pianist: Dr Lisa Engelbrecht

Verity Healey

Author: Verity Healey

I write about theatre, I write short stories/ poetry www.verityhealey.blogspot.com, I also sometimes make films.

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Don Giovanni, Mozart, Raimondo van Staden, The Darling Music Experience, Tricycle Theatre

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Gavin Maxwell and William Townsend talk Anthropocene

Launching on this year’s World Earth Day (Thursday 22nd April), Anthropocene: The Human Era is a digital choose-your-own adventure from [Read More]

NEWS / Thick ‘n’ Fast announce new show General Secretary

Who run the world? A satirically comic journey through power and diplomacy as two highly unqualified women are suddenly landed [Read More]

Guides / 5 Tools for Actors to Enter the Theatre World like a Pro

Becoming a successful actor is no small feat. Fortunately, for those interested in improving their acting skills, plenty of tools [Read More]

NEWS / Digital Theatre & Arts Micro Festival Living Roots

Hot in the heels of the debut Living Record Festival in January-February 2021, the Living Roots Festival launches 5th April. [Read More]

Hands Face & Empty Space / Abel Law on becoming a musical theatre student during COVID

On the 17th March, it will be exactly one year since UK theatre came to an overnight standstill. Every day [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Gavin Maxwell and William Townsend talk Anthropocene
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Alison Ford on maternity, redundancy and doing what's right
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Constellations- Bristol Old Vic
  • From where I was sat, Tom Hiddleston's Betrayal was a bit meh
  • Yasmin Paige on Actually
  • Nick Thompson new Executive Producer Reading Rep Theatre
  • Peter Pan at the National Theatre
  • Bridge Theatre announces 2019 Season
  • Verity Healey

    Verity Healey
    Author

  • July 13th, 2015
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2021 · Blue Pie Media

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!