‘First Night’ - Pink Champagne And A Bit Of Rain.
‘First Night’ opens in Milan, at the famous La Scala!? No, it doesn’t, but it is here that we meet the first of the ensemble cast. Nicolette, an aspiring Mezzo Soprano, (Mia Meastro) auditions for a role, (sung and dubbed in by a gorgeous real life Mezzo). But when she fails to impress, she accepts a role to play a part in an, ‘al fresco’ run of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte. She dashes off to England where the action now settles at a lovely country house in England.
There is something of the Agatha Christie house party about the set up. But as the characters turn up, mostly aspiring singers, desperate to use the Mozart gig as a career booster, a series of complicated romantic liaisons, rather than a murder mystery, develops as rehearsals get underway.
Enter stage right, Celia, (Sarah Brightman) their conductor. She reveals that the production has been organised by Adam, played by the ever elegantly witty, Richard E Grant. Adam is a rich industrialist and amateur singer who, wishing to prove his talents, also wishes to promote young singers and do a good thing for Opera. Very nice of him… oh, and impress Celia, with whom he is in love. But why does blonde sexy soprano, Stella, (Laura Power) have trouble getting her director husband Phillip, (Oliver Dimsdale) to make love to her? Will ravishing tart with a heart Debbie, stop fooling around with the hired help? And what about Nicolette and her seeming incompatibility with co star Tom? Energetically played by the hunky Julian Ovenden, Tom seems to be preoccupied with running away from Baskerville, a large dog.
Thus, the stage is set and gorgeously so. The photography is one of First Night’s joys. It’s a confection of lovely romantic shots of the English countryside and house where ‘First Night’ takes place. Hopefully, Tim Palmer, the celebrated Director of Photography, will get some great work as a result. The sound track, almost made up entirely of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte is wonderful, as are the singers who back up the onscreen actors… In fact so much so, that they eclipse the acting in places. Due to an incompatible recipe of cast, singers, and audio post production choices, the acting and singing doesn’t mix well, and looks incongruous, a fault which is not helped by the dress rehearsal scene.
Of course, it rains, and the dress performance moves inside. Cue a set piece of actors in gorgeous costumes, (stylishly designed by Phoebe de Gaye) miming some great singing. Somehow it doesn’t really sit right in what is essentially a very English, ensemble, situation comedy. But apart from this fault, and poor sound generally, the action and gags roll along like a summers’ day. For the main part it is fine and funny, but a lot more might have been got out of a good premise had the script been tighter. But for a wet October Sunday afternoon? Pink Champagne anyone?
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3.5 Stars.
Jane Foster
janecreates@yahoo.co.uk