... Musically wired for a great sound ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Cosi Fan Tutte JOHANNES Schaaf's 1989 production of Cosi Fan Tutte is gripping almost despite itself, for the initial impression of Hans Schavernoch's design is not promising-- bare screens, except in the opening scene, virtually no furniture and a large pit in the centre of the stage, which is there for no particular reason as tar as 1 ...

... The Pilgrims To Mecca WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA GLUCK is most commonly associated with the sober side of opera, yet he tried his hand at comedy too and, for the year devoted to exploring Mozart, Wexford put on a Gluck opera that clearly inspired Die Entfuhrung. The story used by Gluck in La Rencontre imprevue ou Les Pelerins de la Mecque is that of an escape from a harem and an all-forgiving ...

... Medea CARDIFF Will; TMHR Greek tragedy can be satisfying adapted to a contemporary domestic situation is debatable. The ancient mythologies, legendary characters, theatrical conventions, dramatic structures, do not lend themselves to modern intimacy and attitudes. To write a new play based on themes explored in a 2, 500-year-old drama surely stands greater chance of audience involvement. ...

... The Pied Piper BIRMINGHAM IN HIS new stage adaptation of Browning's poem. Anthony Clark strives too hard to impart a message about the haves and the have nots in society--a theme which is undoubtedly in the original more subtly and more obliquely presented. Alternatively he might have taken the direct approach with the bravura of Dickens, for example, and occa sionally a Dickensian touch does ...

... Magician hits out at Manning By HELEN GOULD STAUNCH Equity supporter Bernard Manning and his union have come under fierce attack from one angry Lancashire magician, who disputes claims that union members stand the best more chance of recouping fees for lost bookings. Manning last month warned acts to be wary of being fleeced by unscrupulous agents and venue managers in the recession, and ...

... The Turn of The Screw BIRMINGHAM IN HER new stage adaptation at the Rep Studio, Eve Lewis makes explicit what Henry James left clouded in uncertainty: that the apparitions of evil which the Governess encounters, and joins battle with, in her employer's house are the products of her overheated mind, created out of a repression of sexual longing It lessens the frisson of James' short story ...

... Music Hall BOLTON A VARIETY show offering a cornu copia of delights at the Octagon. A small cast go through some old time runes and wheel out their party tricks. Robert Whelan is veritably verbose as the Master of Ceremonies. The first half of the show gets off very slowly though for those who love singing along to Daisy Daisy there was satis faction a plenty. The real treats came in the ...

... The King And I LEICESTER THAT Leicester Haymarket's acquisition of director Paul Kerryson was one of the theatre's best moves of 1991 is reaffirmed in his production of The King And I Haymarket theatregoers had their first taste of his skills in the musical Chicago and he has repeated that suc cess in what is arguably the best of the Rodgers and Hammerstcin musicals. It is hard to believe ...

... Samson And Delilah NEWCASTLE THE rebuilding of Northern Opera continues apace. Professional leads and a young production team made for a thrilling presentation of Saint- Saens' only operatic pop, Samson and Delilah, at Newcastle Playhouse. Donald Stephenson had to mime the part of Samson after the first act with his counterpart from the alterna tive cast, Alan Rankin-Crooks singing with vigour ...

... The Nutcracker ROH EVERYONE I know who has seen Britain's three principal productions of The Nutcracker will agree that Peter Wright's production for the Birmingham Royal Ballet is exceptional, and that Ben Stevenson's for English National Ballet and Wright's earlier thoughts for the Royal Ballet are not. The Royal Ballet version is drab, unmagical, and memo rable only for the dreadful cer ...

... Golem NEWCASTLE JOHN Casken's chamber opera, first performed at the 1989 Almeida Festival, has already gained the Britten Award for Composition and a recording on Virgin Classics. This fine new production was premiered here at the Playhouse before touring to seven venues on the Arts Council's Contemporary Network. Lasting 95 minutes and per formed without a break, the story tells of the ...

... Cinderella OXFORD FIFTY years ago, pantomimes featured the stars of radio and provided audiences with the chance to see their heroes of the ether in the flesh. Now it is television soap-opera stars the young want to see, most culled from Australia. Tragically, whereas the pantomime as well as the stars used to matter, this no longer appertains and it has become incidental, as has expe ...