Word: benaim
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Certainly the plot of "The Marriage of Figaro" requires a tongue-in-cheek approach; on paper, it is the kind of convoluted intrigue that gives opera a bad name. Figaro (Brian Saccente), valet to the Count Almaviva (Josh Benaim), is about to marry his sweetheart Susanna (Sarita Cannon), but the Count also has his eye on her. Although the Count has abolished the droit du seigneur, which traditionally allowed the lord to deflower any bride on her wedding night, he is tempted to revive it in Susanna's case. Though a philanderer, the Count is fanatically suspicious of his innocent...
...exception, this cast handles the famous arias beautifully Saccente has a strong voice and stage presence, and none of Figaro's comic nuances escape him; he is excellent in the patter of 'Aprite un po, Figaro's attack on female infidelity, and in the touching final duet with Susanna. Benaim, as the Count, has perhaps the most pleasing voice in the cast, combining power and a dark, rich tone. Brown has a pretty voice, well equipped for Cherubino's charming arias, and brilliant comic instincts--her arm-waving and swooning in the cross-dressing scene is hilarious...
...Penny Rubinfield, proves too much for him in the third act. Rubinfield is a fiesty flirt who uses the low dramatic energy around her to her advantage; she draws every eye to her, both on stage and off, with admirable seconda donna tactics. The conviction and simplicity of Josh Benaim's cameo "coat aria" in the fourth act place the aria closer to Puccini's original intentions than many a bass who overplay the fact that they are singing to a coat and end up looking, well, goofy...
...singers. The balance between pit and stage in particular, combined with good diction on the part of the cast, make for clear and powerful presentation. Set and costumes both attest to the decisive victory of ingenuity over budget, creating the necessary verisimilitude. The exception to this is Benaim's particularly attention-getting wig that is as expressive...
Unpermanents first appeared a few seasons ago, but have just begun to catch on. Stylists at Superhair, a Manhattan salon, now do about 18 a day compared with five a week last year. At Chicago's Mark Benaim salon, requests for the new hairdo have doubled...