Don Pasquale: Stunning slapstick
Don Pasquale, Globe Theatre, Palmerston North, February 7. Reviewed by Malcolm Hopwood
The Old Testament tells us the Earth was created in a week.
Donizetti couldn’t quite match that but completed his comic opera, Don Pasquale ,ina fortnight. It’s also a masterpiece.
There have been many interpretations but none more inventive and slapstick than Wanderlust Opera’s version at The Globe this week.
Jacqueline Coats’ direction paid tribute to Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Mr Bean.
It was enhanced by a sparkling English translation by Georgia Jamieson Emms who played the leading, and mostly misleading lady, Norina. This is how 19th century musical monoliths should be staged.
Don Pasquale is a pompous bachelor who enters into an arranged marriage with Italy’s answer to Kim Kardashian.
He’s duped and deceived by unscrupulous Dr Malatesta who, in another life, is consultant to Married At First Sight.
Cordelia, the bride – sometimes referred to as Chlamydia – fleeces and torments Don Pasquale.
He has the option of a divorce or going gaga. He chooses sanity.
Suddenly Cordelia is revealed as Norina who has the hots for Don Pasquale’s nephew, Ernesto.
The leads, including Stuart Coats as Don Pasquale, are impressive vocally, have great comic timing and a subtlety of sound which Donizetti requires.
Craig Beardsworth (Malatesta) excels in the conniving duet with Don Pasquale.
Donizetti must have heard Mozart’s Queen Of The Night and wrote a similar tenor part for Ernesto.
Wanderlust has made it a trouser role and I was less convinced. But Barbara Paterson had the required vocal gymnastics and played it for laughs.
The Shed 23 ensemble appeared in a conga line on stage and were tuneful and disciplined.
Yes, it was over the top opera and I hardly recognised Quel Guardo (That Look) but Don Pasquale, superbly led by pianist and musical director, Bruce Greenfield, is hugely satisfying.