Phelim McDermott's 2014 staging of Mozart and Da Ponte's Così Fan Tutte has landed as a welcome relief, presenting the opera's cynicism and outdated sexual politics with wit and irony. The production is set in Coney Island in the 1950s, where Act 1 unfolds like a motel farce, complete with nimbly rotating walls and a troupe of circus performers who serve up big laughs and even bigger spectacle.
The show's tongue-in-cheek approach means there's potential for distraction, from the dozen extras sword-swallowing their way through the performance to the chorus as silent fair-goers. However, the attention stays focused on the main characters, particularly Guglielmo (Darwin Prakash) and Ferrando (Joshua Blue), whose disguises are reminiscent of 1950s cool cats.
Meanwhile, the ensemble delivers impressive performances, with the chorus playing the role of bored housewives who aren't impressed by the men's antics. This clever twist throws the shade back on the male characters, adding a layer of depth to the production.
The cast is also strong, with standout performances from Lucy Crowe as Fiordiligi and Ailish Tynan as Despina. The latter brings mischievous energy to her role, while Crowe delivers a rare but effective moment of intense focus in Act 2's Ferris-wheel aria.
Jeremy Sams's translation is agile and funny, with the harpsichord providing a lively accompaniment. Dinis Sousa conducts the orchestra with gusto, bringing out the best in the cast. Overall, this revival of Così Fan Tutte is a fun and engaging take on a classic opera that should delight both new and old fans alike.
The show's tongue-in-cheek approach means there's potential for distraction, from the dozen extras sword-swallowing their way through the performance to the chorus as silent fair-goers. However, the attention stays focused on the main characters, particularly Guglielmo (Darwin Prakash) and Ferrando (Joshua Blue), whose disguises are reminiscent of 1950s cool cats.
Meanwhile, the ensemble delivers impressive performances, with the chorus playing the role of bored housewives who aren't impressed by the men's antics. This clever twist throws the shade back on the male characters, adding a layer of depth to the production.
The cast is also strong, with standout performances from Lucy Crowe as Fiordiligi and Ailish Tynan as Despina. The latter brings mischievous energy to her role, while Crowe delivers a rare but effective moment of intense focus in Act 2's Ferris-wheel aria.
Jeremy Sams's translation is agile and funny, with the harpsichord providing a lively accompaniment. Dinis Sousa conducts the orchestra with gusto, bringing out the best in the cast. Overall, this revival of Così Fan Tutte is a fun and engaging take on a classic opera that should delight both new and old fans alike.
! the idea of nimbly rotating walls and circus performers is just genius 
, and i love how they're throwing shade back on the male characters by making them act like 1950s cool cats 
. lucy crowe as fiordiligi and ailish tynan as despina are both amazing btw 
- they bring so much energy to their roles! 
dinis sousa's conducting skills are also top-notch, he really brings out the best in the cast 
The set design is so cool, it feels like you're actually in Coney Island back in the 50s! 
The cast is amazing too, especially Lucy Crowe as Fiordiligi - her aria was so intense and emotional 
Overall, I think this revival is a win, it's fun, engaging, and definitely worth checking out. 
And can we talk about the cast? Lucy Crowe and Ailish Tynan are absolute fire - they bring so much depth to their roles. I'm all for more productions like this that make opera feel fresh and fun again 
! The set design, especially the rotating walls, had me LOL-ing in the aisles 
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. It's not just an entertaining romp - there's actually substance here too.
), but overall I think this production is a masterclass in how to make opera fun and accessible for everyone.
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. And Jeremy Sams's translation is just clever – I loved how he made the opera feel more modern without losing any of its charm 
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, but now I'm totally won over! I mean, who wouldn't want to see some nifty sword-swallowing and 50s motel shenanigans? 
She brought that intense focus like nobody's business! The cast is def on point too, with Ailish Tynan bringing that mischievous energy to Despina 
. Overall, I'd say this revival is a solid win - love the wit and irony, but also some serious depth 
The cast is on point too, Lucy Crowe as Fiordiligi was amazing! She really brought that character to life. And the way Ailish Tynan played Despina... totally sassy and fun! The music is great too, I'm not usually into opera but this version had me humming along. It's like they took all the oldies and mixed them with something new and exciting - it worked!
it was like stepping into a 50s Coney Island cartoon! The way the walls rotated and the performers sword-swallowed their way through the show had me giggling 
. And Lucy Crowe's voice is just wow, I'm not usually a fan of opera but this was different 
. The cast's energy is infectious and Jeremy Sams's translation really brought out the humor in the show 
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and OMG, it sounds like an absolute blast! The use of a motel as the set is genius 
, especially Lucy Crowe and Ailish Tynan, they're like the queens of comedy and drama all in one 
. Overall, this revival is a must-see for anyone who loves opera or just wants to have a good time 
. Let's get out there and support it! 
. But what really gets me is how they're subverting the original story - it's like they're winking at us and saying "yeah, we know this is old-fashioned, but we're gonna make it work anyway" 
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, it's like they're poking fun at the 50s vibe 
gotta give props to Jeremy Sams' translation too 
, it's like he's speaking the audience's language 
!