Jeffrey Mayhew and Lynsey Tash bring
us 'Cooking with Puccini' directed by Guy Masterson. Giacomo Puccini is
the world's most popular composer, having written La Boheme, Madame
Butterfly, Tosca and Turandot amongst others. He is also known to have
been a musical genius, a reputed 'Casanova' and culinary wizard.
Written
as though we are audience members at a live TV interview with Puccini
himself, his no holds barred show covers all aspects of his life,
mainly fluctuating between the music, his love life and his cooking. He
creates or describes the making of five different foods or drinks, the
recipes for which are all on the programme. I'll be trying at least one.
Jeffrey
Mayhew not only portrays Puccini on stage, but also researched and wrote
the piece. Every quote heard is taken from letters and diaries, the
wealth of material gleaned from his research is not fully covered in the
show. He has developed his
characters with northern accents and although this and the studio
setting are fiction you are completely drawn into the illusion.
Mayhew plays the piano sings, answers the probing personal
questions, cooks and virtually makes love to every woman in the
audience. His portrayal of
the character is totally believable.
Lynsey
Tash is also within character and totally believable whether she is in
her TV presenter's mode or one of Puccini's lovers or leading Divas. She
gets to utilise her performance skills ranging from comedy to operatic
singing.
Jenny
Frost is the ASM or assistant stage manager in the show. She clears the
debris after each bout of cooking and sets up the next requirements as
well as actually joining in on an aria.
This
show is totally enjoyable, whilst being educational and entertaining
beautifully written performed and directed. It seems to be getting
reasonable audiences, so don’t let the Puccini name scare you away from a
show which is a superb piece of theatre.
*****
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