The Figaro Plays

Yesterday afternoon David and I and Peggy and Jim enjoyed the two Figaro Plays of Pierre Beaumarchais, translated, adapted and directed by Steven Wadsworth at McCarter Theatre at Princeton University. We were all familiar with the operas that used these plays as libretti, and it was interesting to see the original inspiration for them.
  Steve Wadsworth

The first, The Barber of Seville , was turned into an  opera by Rossini. David and I had seen this performed at Chicago Lyric Opera this season in a rather tepid performance. The second, The Marriage of Figaro, was, of course, Mozart's take on the story.

The cast included Neal Bledsoe as Count Almaviva, Adam Green as Figaro,Naomi O'Connell as Rosine, Derek Smith as Dr. Bartolo, Burton Curtis as Engarde/Notary, Frank Corrado as LeBebe/Alcade, Jeanne Paulsen as Marceline, Cameron Folmar as Bazile, Cody Buege as Constable, and David Andrew Laws as Constable in The Barber of Seville. In the Marriage of Figaro, the same actors performed their same roles as they did in The Barber of Seville, plus Maggie Lacey as Suzanne, Betsy Hogg as Fanchette, Burton Curtis as Antonio, Cody Buege as Gripe-Soleil/Usher, David Andrew Laws as Pedrillo, Frank Corrado as Brid'oison, Larry Paulson as Doublehands, and Andrew Clark, Kimani Issac, Zoe Mann, Jean Prall Rosolino, and Katie Weinstein as members of the ensemble.

For anyone who knows the operas, the libretto was obviously abridged from the play to fit the music. The direction by Steve Wadsworth was imaginative and fun. He could have edited the second play which went on too long, especially a over-long monologue by Figaro towards the end.

The set by Charles Corcoran was serviceable and evocative. The costumes by Camille Assaf were charming with Spanish overtones.

The cast performed beautifully; a real ensemble effort. Both the Count and Rosine had very good singing voices. 

Steve Wadsworth directed Lorraine in  Ashoka's Dream,  by Peter Lieberson and in Xerxes by Handel in Los Angeles, Boston and at New York City Center. He has the ability to keep the action moving with grace and eloquence. The second act of Marriage  was too long and should have been cut.

I still prefer the operas.