La Cenerentola July-August 2023

Opera Kipling - Théâtre Basse Passière, France / Upstairs at the Gatehouse, UK

*** Finalist OffWestEnd OffFest awards voted one of the best 3 shows out of 300 in the 2023 Camden Fringe ***

*** Nominated for a Standing Ovation Award rated one of the best 10 shows in the 2023 Camden fringe in the London Pub Theatre Awards ***

After the success of Opera Kipling’s debut show, Cosi Fan Tutte at the Edinburgh and Camden Fringe, the company asked me back to direct Rossini’s touching comedy La Cenerentola. Aimed at new opera audiences as well as opera veterans, this production set the piece in the 1980s, with comic surtitles to match. I decided to revert the bracelets of Rossini’s libretto back to shoes and make Alidoro into Alidora, Cinderella’s fairy god mother. Cinderella is hard of hearing and uses sign language to assist her speech, underlining how isolated and misunderstood she is. Design, Direction and Lighting Design: Guido Martin-Brandis; Costume design: Guido Martin-Brandis and Laura Curry; Surtitles: Guido Martin-Brandis

Cenerentola - Karima El Demerdasch

Don Ramiro - Robert Tilson

Don Magnifico - Alex Jones

Clorinda - Laura Curry

Tisbe - Grace Lovelass

Dandini - Thomas Litchev

Alidora - Wiktoria Wizner

Music Director - Giannis Giannopoulos

Reviews

Brent Muirhouse - MarkAspen.com - 4.5 stars

“A gloriously fun and very welcome fusion with 1980s pop culture weaves it further into a vibrant tapestry of references, resembling a much-loved, well-worn vinyl record from the ‘Now! That’s What I Call Music!’ series. As every scene becomes a figurative dance-off between the familiar fairytale and the decade nostalgia that peppers the narrative with an incredibly pleasing attention to detail. Cinderella in this rendition, directed by Guido Martin-Brandis, is an harmonious hybrid that enchants and engages, a fluorescent-hued love letter both to opera and a much-loved era.”

“ The action on stage was so captivating that it more than kept all those present entranced.”

“The end result is that Rossini’s musical score is a symphony of excellence and often poignant beauty”

“This synergy between Rossini’s timeless composition and the playful details creates a means to be transported to a world where opera and 80s pop culture harmoniously waltz together. Opera Kipling’s Cinderella/La Cenerentola woos us with its glitter, attention to nostalgic minutiae, and a stunning score.”

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Jane Darcy - The Reviews Hub - 4.5 stars

“Opera Kipling’s new production of La Cenerentola, the story of Cinderella, is a delight”

“Director Guido Martin-Brandis’s decision to set it in the Day-Glo world of the 1970s and 80s works very well. The costumes are a treat. Cinderella’s nasty stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe, are all leg-warmers and scary make-up, while Dandini, the Prince’s valet, sports a John Travolta suit and sharp shoes. There are lots of other witty touches. Clorinda makes her first entrance wobbling on roller skates; greedy Don Magnifico shouts into one of those brick-like early mobile phones. And you can’t take your eyes off Grace Lovelace as younger evil sister Tisbe, so perfect is her every pout and pose.”

“There’s added comic delight from the English subtitles which sneak in fun references to 80s pop classics.”

“The famous storm, created by two characters flapping a huge plastic sheet, is strangely effective. Changes of scene between Don Magnifico’s and the Prince’s palazzo are neatly achieved by switching wall hangings.”

“At 90 minutes you long for more. It’s a delightful evening and you leave humming the tunes.”

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Melanie Lim - LondonPubTheatres.com - 4 stars

“La Cenerentola is a great classic story directed by a visionary Guido Martin-Brandis”

“A gem of a theatre company”

“Will keep you entertained from beginning to end with their over-the-top delightful and humourous performances”

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Mike Carter - Everything-Theatre.co.uk

“Opera Kipling’s refreshing staging of Rossini’s Cinderella is an unpretentious treat.”

“As a frequenter of fringe theatre, I have always taken particular delight in small-scale productions that punch above their weight. Opera Kipling has taken to the Upstairs at The Gatehouse stage as part of this year’s Camden Fringe with exactly that spirit. The results are joyful.”

“Here, the story is given a highly successful 1980s makeover. English subtitles are projected throughout. They don’t just tell the story. Far from it, they add layers of humour themselves. Lyrics, cultural references and 80s vocabulary are peppered throughout with genuine wit.”

“Funny operatic performances seem almost miraculous to me… laughs come aplenty.”

“sprightly direction from Guido Martin-Brandis”

“an exceedingly welcome addition to the fringe scene and I look forward to seeing what they do next.”