BWW Reviews: Soulpepper Stages Hilarious BARBER OF SEVILLE

The Barber of Seville, the fourth show of Soulpepper's 2013 season, opened this past Thursday at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.

Soulpepper's production of The Barber of Seville is a remount of the 1996 Theatre Columbus hit. Michael O'Brien and John Millard have adapted the play by Beaumarchais and the opera by Rossini.

The Barber of Seville follows the love story of Count Almaviva, the young nobleman who goes undercover to pursue, woo and win Rosina, with the help of the cunning and clever rogue Figaro, the Barber of Seville.

Gregory Prest does a fantastic job playing the attractive yet cunning Count Almaviva. We already knew what an incredible actor he is, but he also has a great singing voice to boot. Courtney Ch'ng Lancaster does a really great job as Rosina, the young ward of Don Bartolo, who is played by Oliver Dennis. She plays Rosina with a hint of mischief and has a fine voice. Veteran Soulpepper actors Oliver Dennis and William Webster are really great as the hilarious Don Bartolo and Don Basilio (Rosina's music teacher and Bartolo's confidant), respectively.

But the star of the show is Dan Chameroy as the charming, clever and devious rascal Figaro. Chameroy has an incredible voice, able to tackle all of Figaro's songs with such effortless ease. Figaro plots and schemes on behalf of Almaviva, and Chameroy's cunning smirk and portrayal help to solidify him as the perfect Figaro.

Soulpepper's The Barber of Seville is an entertaining musical comedy which will keep you laughing for most of the show. It starts off with an overture of sorts led by John Millard with musicians playing the banjo, accordion, bass, flute and violin onstage. One of the most hilarious scenes occurs near the end of the first act when all chaos and mayhem ensues, and the hilarity resumes right at the start of the second act with one of Count Almaviva's many disguises.

O'Brien's adaptation of the original Beaumarchais play is quite successful as he combines it with more well-known and newer references, like that of Bugs Bunny, Phantom of the Opera, and he borrows a bit from Dan Hill and Carly Rae Jepsen as well, just to name a few. Millard's music is also wide-ranging, but it draws heavily on Rossini's opera in addition to mingling it with some other familiar tunes.

Ken Mackenzie does a fantastic job with the set design helping it to evoke a taste of Spain by replicating Spanish house settings and gates, and the set itself is quite versatile and portable to help with the quick set changes. I must also commend Victoria Wallace's costume design which aids in giving an authentic feel to the characters and their settings.

I highly recommend Soulpepper's production of The Barber of Seville if you're looking for a hilarious night out at the theatre. This production is filled with great acting and singing and I guarantee you'll be thoroughly entertained and laughing for a good bit for the rest of the evening.

When and Where?

The Barber of Seville

Young Centre for the Performing Arts

On stage now until June 8th, 2013

Tickets are $32 to $68 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416 866 8666, or online at www.soulpepper.ca

Photo Credit: Cylla von Tiedemann