State Opera South Australia’s production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte stands as a finely balanced accomplishment. Director Patrick Nolan employs visual references to popular culture, classic Italian cinema, and, of course, classical opera, to create a refreshingly modern production. The ensemble had to replace one of the lead players due to a physical injury quite late in the process; however, this did not impact the quality of the production at all.
The story of Così fan tutte is quite simple, but the emotional journey the characters undertake is very complex, particularly for the two sisters, Dorabella (Anna Dowsley) and Fiordiligi (Sky Ingram), who both shine in their respective roles.
Two soldiers, Ferrando (Adrian Strooper, standing in for Kyle Stegall) and Guglielmo (Nick Lester), arrive at a luxurious villa with their fiancées, the two sisters, and settle in for an intimate weekend. The characters all present as likeable young lovers, each with well-defined and unique traits. The subtlety of the acting among the ensemble on stage is engaging from the start; there’s nothing operatic or stilted about it, which makes it very easy to watch.
Don Alfonso (Christopher Hillier), an acquaintance of the two men, randomly challenges them to a bet, insisting their two women would prove to be fickle if given the opportunity. Although he plays the younger men with self-assured charm (of course, the lads immediately see themselves making some easy money, believing their women are completely devoted), once the bet is on, Don Alfonso, in a moment of self-doubt, slyly engages Despina (Jessica Dean), an employee of the villa, to help him convince the sisters they should be true to their gender when the opportunity arises and cheat on their partners. Don Alfonso also insists the men follow some amusing directions to enable them to witness firsthand how fickle their women will be.
This is essentially a centuries-old romantic comedy, and it is consistently funny, mainly because the characters are so well defined and the acting is so good. Overall, it’s really an examination of how foolish men can be, at the expense of the women they “love”, and how willingly they’ll be manipulated into an awkward situation for the sake of a bet.
Of course, it is mostly sung, and sung superbly. As each character questions their feelings, behaviours, and values, the humour shifts in different ways, and all the while, the music is simply marvellous. It’s a great production.
Così fan tutte
until 7th of September, 2024
Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
