Echo Germanica 8/02: Tom McCamus
Stratford Festival and Threepenny Opera.
There is quite a collection of plays at the Stratford this year, classic Shakespeare with a total of 6 plays including "Romeo and Juliet", "King Lear" and "Richard III". Then there is also "The Scarlet Pimpernel" with beautiful costumes and a couple are wonderful musicals "My Fair Lady" and "The Threepenny Opera". July 19 I happened to be at the Avon Theatre, thoroughly enjoying myself at Bertold Brecht’s "The Threepenny Opera".
There are American musicals, there are French and then there are German ones. This one although taking place in London, England with characters bearing names like Peachum, Filch or Tiger Brown has the unmistakable style and melodies of German culture. And the Kurt Weill melodies are upbeat, rhythmic and full of vigour.
The opening appearance of the street bum singing the so well known "Mack the Knife" put the audience in the spirit of the famous musical.
The newly renovated Avon Theatre offers full audio support to the singers and their voices carried loud and clear. The mobile set was apparently Brecht’s idea and works very well 70 years after its conception. And the costumes of the ladies from Soho were somehow more the style of Hamburg from the 20’s or 30’s than England of that period.
The highest applause was directed to Tom McCamus as Mackheath, Peter Donaldson as J.J.Peachum and Sheila McCarthy as Mrs.Peachum. It always amazes me that actors – who are not singers – given the roles, can sing and they sang well. It is a great success, one of the best known and finest musicals of the 20th century. Light entertainment well put together, a piece of good theatre and running till November. The telephone for the Stratford box office is 1-800-567-1600 or local from K-W 519-273-1600. Have a great time!
Irena Wandschneider
© Echo Germanica
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