Carmen

This is the fourth time Guildford Opera has performed  Bizet’s Classic Opera Stage Director Dawn did justice to this popular opera in her first directorial role with Guildford Opera asssisred by a very talented cast. Carmen (Phillipa Thomas) whose singing, acting and  flirtatious mannerisms as the cigarette girl in a role that was a joy to watch. Don Jose (James Kinsella) played his role well as the only man not to take an interest in the  feisty Carmen ,his singing and acting are always delight. Micaela (Hannah Kirk) arrives with a letter from Don Jose’s mother urging him to marry Micaela who played her role well with a very fine singing voice. The girls rush out of the factory fighting, Carmen has attacked another girl with a knife, Zuniga (James Davis) the captain, who gave a good performance of acting and singing, arrests Carmen and orders Don Jose to take her to gaol but she persuades him to loosen the ropes and she escapes and Don Jose was sent to gaol for allowing her to escape. The scene is set at a Tavern where the gypsy girls are singing and dancing with Carmen and two other girls Frasquita (Eleanor Hemmens) with her lovely powerful voice and Mercedes (Helen Clutterbuck) a very talented actress and singer were a joy to watch.  Two smugglers Dancairo (Nicholas George) and Remendado (Stephen Cviic) both played the roles and sang and acted well.  Escamillo (Thomas Humphreys) arrived on stage as a very handsome toreador, wooing all the girls with his splendid singing and acting performing as befitted his handsome role.  As always Guildford Opera produced the highest quality in vocal and acting categories, a splendid performance entertained a full house.  I must mention the Flamenco Dancer Rosa Fernandez whose dancing enlivened the evening Francis Griffin once again conducted his orchestra very well to complement the cast. Set design by Dawn and production team, and the set constructed by Roland Couvela.

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