Word: beggared
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Birdsall's strong soprano voice, however, partially compensates for the weakness of her acting. Musically, in fact, the entire cast of The Beggar's Opera is unimpeachable. While Ben Cox's Macheath displays more world-weariness and self-parody than vigor, he sings in a melodious high tenor that does ample justice to Gay's ballads. Toulouse too has an outstanding, well-controlled soprano--although her duets with Polly would be more effective were she a contralto...
There are some wonderful moments in The Beggar's Opera--Master Kiely all grimaces and contortions as the Beggar/playwright, Macheath's gang lustily anticipating their booty, the prostitutes--each with a distinctive dress and a personality to match--swinging their way across the stage, mimicking lords and ladies and boasting gleefully of their conquests. Sharp characterizations of the prostitutes and gang members perfectly the rowdiness and vibrancy of the London underworld make these last scenes the most exciting in the production...
Despite the exertions of a talented cast, The Beggar's Opera founders as a result of sheer length. As a play, Gay's opera is too concerned with satire to retain much dramatic force, and three hours of sometimes dated humor interspersed with dozens of similar-sounding ballads is just too much tediousness for mere talent to overcome...
...that The Beggar's Opera isn't worth seeing--some of the energy and fun that went into this production do manage to communicate themselves to the audience. Just don't expect to catch the late show of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," afterwards. And if you're male, by all means go unaccompanied...
...Beggar's Opera. Three hours of ballads and bawdiness. Watch out for the prostitutes. See my review on page 2 of today's Crimson. At the Adams House Dining Hall, April...