Benvenuto Cellini...

Last Friday night Stuart and I went to see Terry Gilliam's production of Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini at the London Coliseum.

The English National Opera had invited Gilliam back (after the success of The Damnation of Faust) to their stage bring his unique bonkers style of production.  And he did. It was bonkers. And brilliant.

All the classic touches were there. Surreal, funny and dazzling.

The Damnation of Faust...

On Saturday night Paul and I went to the English National Opera to see Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust. The London Coliseum had given itself up to the wonderful Terry Gilliam for the night.

We were in for a treat: the music was great, the acting lovely, but it was Gilliam's production that wowed.

For two and half hours we languished in a visually stunning production flowing through 100 years of German history from the mid-1800s to the Third Reich.

It was a breathtakingly show - ranging from the artistic and subtle design of Bauhaus to looking like The Producers' Springtime for Hitler. The sets were simply amazing and use of video projection perfectly judged.

Gilliam's little Monty Python tricks and seductions seeped through too such as the oversized box on Faust's back at the beginning and the fight over the Cake of Europe.

We loved it. I hope the show gets a tour and indeed returns to London. It'll be well worth seeing it again.