Così Fan Tutte – ‘women are all, and always, so’ – is Mozart and Da Ponte’s final comic masterpiece. Phelim McDermott returns to direct this classic six-hander following the recent triumphs of Philip Glass’s Satyagraha and The Perfect American.
The production was colourful, playful and fun - albeit at times a little quirky.
Sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella are enjoying a holiday in Coney Island with their fiancés, Ferrando and Guglielmo. The two couples are enjoying the sights and sounds of the fun fair on the boardwalk, where the sideshow performers keep them entertained. However, the fairground is a place where anything can happen – and its manipulative master, Don Alfonso, has a game to play with the lovers.
The quirkiness reminded me a bit of Julie Walters's sketch in Victora Wood As Seen On TV when as the leader of the Piecrust players she says, "But I can't say this too often; it may be Hamlet but it's got to be Fun, Fun, Fun! I don't think it's too gimmicky... the tandem."
Well, instead of a tandem here we have waltzing teacups, Joe 90's spinning cage and line-dancing dwarves.
