Ellen Kent's Madama Butterfly Reviews

D.Roffey from England

SURTITLES ARE AN ABOMINATION!

If I want a digital screen experience, I can watch opera at home on my mobile or tablet If I want opera in sung in English I can no doubt watch a different production live or at home However, I went to the opera to be absorbed by the experience in all it's live facets, to be delighted in the ambience of the threatre. I do not go to opera for a digital experience. The bright electronic screen with crude translations blinking at my eye level did nothing to enhance the experience. I had to resort to closing my eyes to avoid the intrusion of the vulgar screen. The sound of the opera sung in Italian is magnificent. Elena Dee was superb as was the Ukraninan performers The inital female chorus performance was disappointing the children were not singing and one in what looked like she was in her her school shoes In Act two, the surtitles subsided and the singing of the Ukrainian national anthema was very moving. Sadly there were some disruptive members of the audience sitting next to us :(

Mike Hutchby from Derbyshire

A VALIANT EFFORT

This is a challenging role met with a valiant effort. Well done Madama. The cast did well. But there are some buts. The set was reminiscent of the entrance to a garden centre bedecked with plastic flowers and the hut placed centre stage left the performers with little space to perform. It was reminiscent of a Carry On movie. Just terrible. The baby boy blindfolded and holding an American flag also struck a jarring and eerie note in today’s world. The most notable event of the evening however was the booing at curtain call for Pinkerton. A rich American trampling the world and running off with the spoils was not well received. How things are changing.

Pv from London, England

AM DRAM

We were so looking forward to seeing this production of Madame Butterfly but as soon as the curtain went up and you saw the set and already we were alarmed. The set looked like a cheap B and Q foyer with a large hut central to the stage. The drama was essentially about how many times they could open and close the sliding doors. Very cheap production, terrible lighting, cheap costumes and terrible direction that there was laughter at times there shouldn’t have been. So disappointing, an exercise in how not to put on a production of such a well loved opera.

Aloysious from London, England

NEVER REALLY GETS OUT OF 2ND GEAR AND DELIVERS

The whole production never really gets its act together and I found the leading singers very lacking. Normally I can't help but cry during this opera but alas tonight I left with dry eyes which was is really quite a damning indictment...

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