REVIEW: LA CENERENTOLA at Upstairs at the Gatehouse / Camden Fringe 3 – 6 August 2023
‘La Cenerentola is a great classic story directed by a visionary Guido
Martin-Brandis and interpreted beautifully on the keyboard’ ★★★★
Tucked Upstairs at the Gatehouse in a large mock Tudor building located in Highgate Village is a
gem of a theatre company showcasing its re-imagined version of Rossini’s Opera, ‘La
Cenerentola’. A comic operatic variation of the fairytale Cinderella set in the eighties. Opera
Kipling is made up of a group of working professional singers-performers and its production
team. All the songs are sung in Italian and the addition of a big screen with subtitles and
captions in the English language is a most welcoming element to a production which seeks
to promote accessibility.
Laura Curry and Grace Lovelace as the two brightly coloured neon-stepsisters Clorinda and
Tisbe will keep you entertained from beginning to end with their over-the-top delightful and
humourous performances. Together with their flamboyant father Alexander Jones’ Don
Magnifico, they brave through the storms and will do all that it takes in order to make ends
meet by taking advantage of others.
Karima El Demerdasch’s Angelina / Cenerentola in contrast projects a more demure,
modest and kind-hearted character. As she delivers her lyrics melodiously like a songbird,
she also uses Sign Supported English (SSE) to communicate. Note that her sign language
skills would have come in handy for her Prince Charming, as Robert Tilson’s Don Ramiro
had lost his voice that day and was unable to join the rest of the cast in songs. He is
ultimately able to profess his love for La Cenerentola, having been aided by his diligent and
wise fairy Godmother Wiktoria Wizner’s Alidora and his valet Thomas Litchev’s Dandini
who, disguised as Don Ramiro, is all too eager and enthusiastic to step in the princely role.
All ends well. Kindness and love prevails. Sadness turns into joy and the lovebirds live
happily ever after. La Cenerentola is a great classic story directed by a visionary Guido
Martin-Brandis and interpreted beautifully on the keyboard by Giannis Giannopoulos, the
musical director.
Name of production: La Cenerentola
Venue: Upstairs at The Gatehouse
Producer: Opera Kipling
Director: Guido Martin-Brandis
Musical Director: Giannis Giannopoulos
Reviewed by Melanie Lam
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