Performance

VenueAlhambra Theatre
Other spaces: The Studio
TownBradford
CountyWest Yorkshire
From30th March 2006
To1st April 2006
When19:15
What is currently on at Alhambra Theatre (V965)

Arms and the Cow

T0207459675
Satirical Operetta. It tells the story of an American arms dealer who arrives on the imaginary Caribbean Island of Santa Maria, and incites it to an arms race with its neighbour. The work contains many contemporary topical references: dictators, arms dealers, weapons of mass destruction. Arms and the Cow also follows two village lovers planning their wedding whose only possession, a cow is confiscated to pay the emergency tax levied because of the arms bought. The work is full of pungent satire and rowdy, raunchy humour, with traditional waltzes, can-cans, and Caribbean-feel numbers.
Music Kurt Weill


Archive :: production:T0207459675, opera or operetta:S1064943540, venue:V965

Production details

New Production. Sung in English

Reviews

Reviews


User Review: 31Mar06: This has the be the worst operetta doing the rounds at the moment, if not of all time. Sitting in row M of the stalls at the Alhambra, Bradford, the orchestra swamped the vocal parts which were barely understandable. The set design and costume should get some mention as being the only notable exception to what was otherwise an appalling production of an equally appalling opera. The opening makes little sense the whole plot is fractured and pointless the characters are bland, tedious and calling them one dimensional is really praising them too much. Anyone who survives through the interval and goes back for more of this guff should either be given a medal or free psychiatric counselling. I am a great fan of Opera North but if this had been my introduction to the company I wouldn't have been coming back to see them again. Apart from the set design the only reason to see this is to look at how an opera should not be choreographed, written and performed. The lyrics have to be the worst ever devised and elevates the singing frog to an art form. In fairness to the performers they were probably stifled by everything else, Jeffery Lawton and Donald Maxwell make the best of what was a, truely gut wrenchingly, bad deal.

User Reviews

USER (31Mar06): This has the be the worst operetta doing the rounds at the moment, if not of all time. Sitting in row M of the stalls at the Alhambra, Bradford, the orchestra swamped the vocal parts which were barely understandable. The set design and costume should get some mention as being the only notable exception to what was otherwise an appalling production of an equally appalling opera. The opening makes little sense the whole plot is fractured and pointless the characters are bland, tedious and calling them one dimensional is really praising them too much. Anyone who survives through the interval and goes back for more of this guff should either be given a medal or free psychiatric counselling. I am a great fan of Opera North but if this had been my introduction to the company I wouldn't have been coming back to see them again. Apart from the set design the only reason to see this is to look at how an opera should not be choreographed, written and performed. The lyrics have to be the worst ever devised and elevates the singing frog to an art form. In fairness to the performers they were probably stifled by everything else, Jeffery Lawton and Donald Maxwell make the best of what was a, truely gut wrenchingly, bad deal.
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USER (31Mar06): This has the be the worst operetta doing the rounds at the moment, if not of all time. Sitting in row M of the stalls at the Alhambra, Bradford, the orchestra swamped the vocal parts which were barely understandable. The set design and costume should get some mention as being the only notable exception to what was otherwise an appalling production of an equally appalling opera. The opening makes little sense the whole plot is fractured and pointless the characters are bland, tedious and calling them one dimensional is really praising them too much. Anyone who survives through the interval and goes back for more of this guff should either be given a medal or free psychiatric counselling. I am a great fan of Opera North but if this had been my introduction to the company I wouldn't have been coming back to see them again. Apart from the set design the only reason to see this is to look at how an opera should not be choreographed, written and performed. The lyrics have to be the worst ever devised and elevates the singing frog to an art form. In fairness to the performers they were probably stifled by everything else, Jeffery Lawton and Donald Maxwell make the best of what was a, truely gut wrenchingly, bad deal.

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Company

Producer Bregenz Festival
Producer Vienna Volksoper
Company Opera North
Director David Pountney
Conductor James Holmes
Translation Jeremy Samms
Translation David Pountney
Design Duncan Hayler
Lighting Marjus Holdermann
Costume Duncan Hayler
Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood
Performer Mary Plazas (Juanita Sanchez to May 24)
Performer Deborah Norman (from Jun 3)
Performer Leonardo Capalbo (Juan)
Performer Adrian Clarke (Jones)
Performer Jeffrey Lawton (President Mandez)
Performer Robert Burt (Ximenez)
Performer Donald Maxwell (General Garcia Conchas)
Performer Beverley Klein (Madame Odette)
CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

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