REVIEW: Così fan tutte?! At Arcola Theatre 21 – 25 July 2025
‘a charming evening of opera’ ★★★ ½
Barefoot Opera presents Mozart’s comic opera Così fan tutte, at the annual Grimeborn Festival. The story centres on an experiment run by scientist Don Alfonso to discover whether he is right in believing ‘that’s how all women are’; fickle in matters of love. Brothers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, believing that their fiancés are loyal, disguise themselves and try to test their fidelity by tempting them into falling in love with the ‘two strangers’. Is Don Alfonso, right?
However unlikely that the women would not see through the disguises, the opera does say something about human nature and about forgiveness. Of course, it’s a wonderful excuse to show off operatic skills. With just two instruments, a double bass (Amy Baldwin) and a keyboard (Lesley Anne Sammons), the opera must rely on story, voice and characterisation to flesh it out.
Director, Jenny Miller, had some fun ideas for the ensemble and the presentation of costume – the clothing being such an important part of the story. The opening scene, when the ensemble, all dressed in black and writhing on the floor, chattering in Italian, nicely set up a sense of the prototype human being; an expectation of what is to come. Perhaps this early promise was not quite matched throughout the production; the clothing not as rich as could be hoped, and the humour not very well developed.
Perhaps the story is not always very clear, but the subtitles help to give some clarity. At two and half hours (with interval) it is a full and enjoyable night out. The scene stealer of the night (for me) was the Zara Donaldson who played Despina (the lady’s maid), with wit, eye catching physicality and a pleasing voice. Then there are some really lovely arias showing off the talents of the singers which also helped to create a charming evening of opera.
Barefoot Opera presents,
Così fan tutte
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Directed by Jenny Miller
ARCOLA THEATRE, Studio 1, until 25 July 2026
BOX OFFICE https://www.arcolatheatre.com/event/cosi-fan-tutte/
