Review: CRAZY FOR YOU at The Castle Opera In Szczecin

It's not very often that we get to see a musical classic in the Polish theatre. The production of The Castle Opera makes us regret that this is such a rare case. Go check it out, it's great!
From the first notes, we are transferred to a different world of music and entertainment. For the next two hours, we would be exposed to dynamics, rapid scene changes, incredible voices and beautiful costumes.
Director Jerzy Jan Polonski has done his best to pay homage to this classic and watching his version you wouldn't get the impression that this is some old, inane answer product, on the contrary, it sends a deep respect for the American classics. The costumes of Agata Uchman are delightful (especially those of Follies), the colorful patterns of which will remain in your memory for a long time. She won Jan Kiepura Theater Music Awards for her work and it's well deserved. Exceptional.
Anastazja Simińska as Polly is simply brilliant. Maybe even "brilliant" isn't enough. It's not just about the voice, it's about the stage movement, the charisma and something that makes it impossible to take your eyes off her. You want her to sing more and more. She even overshadowed the great Karol Drozd, who put a tremendous amount of energy into the show and absolutely lifted to the role. They are great together.
Either way, each cast group is very distinctive and it's wonderful to see how their dynamic changes. Cowboys, revue girls, possessive mother, firm fiancee, etc., each of these characters is so clear that it is a real pleasure to see them on stage as a whole. They're an ensemble, not a group of soloists, which is a huge asset.
The show has so many fantastic pieces that it's hard to pinpoint one that would be better than the others. Group songs have their exploding power and they are intertwined with more lyrical or comedic ones, which makes time fly, reassuring us that good material will defend itself even after many years. And dance... when was the last time you saw tap dancing on the Opera stage? Let me give you a hint - so light and so good probably never! Maciej Glaza was also awarded at the Jan Kiepura Theater Music Awards and indeed his lightness, energy and precision are up to the sky.
There's power, there's glitz, tinsel, revue, entertainment, refreshed (very tastefully) old Hollywood. It's dynamic, even crazy sometimes, like in old musicals, but this lightness is necessary. The content is not overwhelming, and the delicacy itself is a huge plus. After all, it's meant to be entertainment, and this show is of a very high standard. The musical rocks.

Photo: Piotr Gamdzyk©Opera na Zamku

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