#BrumHour Networking with Birmingham
Join #BrumHour Sundays at 8pm on Twitter to network with #Birmingham
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • About #BrumHour
  • Archive (2016-18)
  • Sponsoring BrumHour
WNO Don Pasquale Nico Darmanin (Ernesto) Andrew Shore (Don Pasquale) Photo by Robert Workman
9th June, 2019

Review: Don Pasquale at MAC, Birmingham

BrumHour was invited to review Don Pasquale
at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) by Welsh National Opera.

By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour

Don Pasquale at
Midlands Arts Centre

Music by Gaetano Donizetti, Directed by Daisy Evans

This summer WNO (Welsh National Opera) is touring Don Pasquale until 13th July and, last night, I was lucky enough to receive an invite to see this fantastic, modern and brash production at Birmingham’s Midlands Arts Centre (MAC).

Quirijn de Lang (Malatesta) Harriet Eyley (Norina)
WNO Don Pasquale Photo by Robert Workman

Don Pasquale (Andrew Shore) owns a burger van in Cardiff and he doesn’t trust his nephew and employee Ernesto (Nico Darmanin) to take care of the business in the future. Local man Malatesta (Quirijn de Lang) decided to teach Don Pasquale a lesson about trust and enlists Ernesto’s girlfriend Norina (Harriet Eyley) to pose as a suitor for Don Pasquale.

If this sounds like a french farce rather than an opera you’d be correct. There is lots of humour to be found in this modern, fresh and fun version of this story which happens to be told in operatic music by Gaetano Donizetti.

With a seven-person “Band” ensemble on stage, we are given the chance to listen to and see the music and the personality of the “band” as they interact with our four characters, at one moment producing a copy of 50 Shades of Grey between the music.

Harriet Eyley (Norina) Andrew Shore (Don Pasquale)
WNO Don Pasquale Photo by Robert Workman

Vocally very impressive, the four actors/opera singers each get their chance to shine as well as show their operatic range. Quirijn de Lang as Malatesta struts around like Richard O’Brien with a wig, in his heeled shoes, see through shirt and leather trousers. Harriet Eyley transforms from dark-haired hipster to blonde “dream woman” (Complete with butt pads!). Andrew Shore‘s Don Pasquale is realistic as his self-employed business owner trying to protect his legacy and Nico Darmanin bounds around the stage as wannabe music artist.

After seeing large scale Welsh National Opera productions previously, this was a great chance to see a much more intimate production, with a single set, which itself transforms from traditional burger van to a hipster juice bar. My plus one Reene, had a great time at this unexpectedly funny, warm touching comedy Opera.

Nico Darmanin (Ernesto) Andrew Shore (Don Pasquale)
WNO Don Pasquale Photo by Robert Workman

WNO: Don Pasquale is touring until 13th July. Find out more about the tour here: wno.org.uk/whats-on/pasquale


This isn’t a sponsored post.

When not writing about theatre for BrumHour, or producing Interval Theatre for Brum Radio (Tuesdays 3pm) brumradio.com/intervaltheatre, 
Dave Massey can be found eating crisps and claiming to be at the gym. And tweeting about Birmingham for #BrumHour.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Season Preview: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Autumn/Winter 2019/20 Raise funds for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Charity with NHS Big Tea
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Theatre and Arts

Announced: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to remain closed throughout 2021

Birmingham Hippodrome
Theatre and Arts

Birmingham Hippodrome announces Young Advocates programme

BrumRainbow Global Rainbow - Photos by Simon Hadley
Theatre and Arts

Installation: Global Rainbow with Birmingham Hippodrome Festivals

Search

Recent Posts

  • Season Preview: Birmingham Hippodrome Spring and Summer 2021
  • Pride House Birmingham launches ahead of Commonwealth Games 2022
  • Lifestyle tips to boost your mood with Fight For All The Feels

Categories

  • Business
  • Community
  • Experience
  • Food and Drink
  • Gift Guide
  • Theatre and Arts
  • Things to do

Follow BrumHour on Twitter

My Tweets

Archives

  • About #BrumHour
  • Archive (2016-18)
  • Sponsoring BrumHour
© BrumHour 2019