Ellen Kent’s Tosca at the New Alexandra Theatre Review
Ellen Kent’s Tosca
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
28 February 2016
Reviewed by Phil Nettleton
This was our first visit to the opera… what did we expect? – voices that can shatter glasses, tuxedos, fat ladies singing!
What we got was very different, a relaxed, not at all up-tight, entertaining evening and a good entry into what to enjoy about the opera – Tosca.
The voices, as you would expect were amazing and the promise of an “explosion of love and treachery” with an almost pantomime villain playing of Scarpia (Vladimir Dragos) providing the treachery, double crossing Cavarodossi and Tosca.
The staging was good with the church changing into Scarpia’s apartment, then to the Sart’Angelo Prison. If I’m honest it wasn’t quite as grand as I’d expected but this was soon forgotten when Mario Cavarodossi (Vitalii Liskovetskyi) and Floria Tosca (Maria Tonina) joined one another on stage. There were light hearted moments when Tosca scolded her lover for not making his painting of the Madonna represent her enough.
The whole cast showed their fantastic voices throughout but the moment that grabbed me the most was at the end of the first act with Scarpia and the chorus singing Te Deum (apologies for my lack of culture but I recognised it from a scene in James Bond – Quantum of Solace). It built with Scarpia singing in his deep baritone voice and really was the standout moment for me.
The solos were truly amazing, with all members of the cast reaching notes that I didn’t know was possible. Getting used to focusing on the voices, watching the performances and craning your head to see the surtitles that were above the stage (this may have been more difficult if further back in the stalls) didn’t take too long. I felt that watching the characters was actually the bit I focused on the least as the acting is secondary to the voices.
If I’m really honest, although Tosca was entertaining I don’t think I’m an opera convert and wouldn’t be rushing back to see another, although it was something that I’m glad I have experienced.
Overall I would rate it 4 out of 5, but sadly opera is not for me.
Rating: 4/5
Ellen Kent’s Tosca is currently on tour around the UK, for more information and tour dates visit www.ellenkent.com.
For other shows at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham visit www.atgtickets.com/birmingham.
New Alexandra Theatre, Suffolk Queensway, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 4DS
