'Don Pasquale' opera 'outstanding,' 'sensational' and funny
Review » Utahn has 'extraordinary vocal gifts.'
By Catherine Reese Newton
The Salt Lake Tribune 

Saddle up and mosey on over to the opera house, where Utah Opera is staging a rip-roaring "spaghetti Western" version of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale."

The production, brainchild of Utah Opera regular David Gately, has been a hit at companies throughout North America (including Logan's Utah Festival Opera several years back). It's fast-moving and packed with laughs -- but even more important, the singing in Utah Opera's "Don Pasquale" is sensational.

Utah's own Celena Shafer plays Norina, the down-to-earth cowgirl whose plans to marry Ernesto are being thwarted by the Old World ways of his uncle, Don Pasquale. With some help from Pasquale's friend "Doc" Malatesta, Norina manages to get her man. Shafer's extraordinary vocal gifts, coupled with her exuberant commitment to everything she sings, have made her a favorite at Utah Opera. The amazing vocal control she displayed Saturday left one wondering whether there's anything she can't sing. She also proved to be an excellent comedian.

Steven Condy (singing the title role), Robert McPherson (Ernesto) and Carlos Archuleta (Malatesta) likewise are outstanding singing actors and comedians. Condy's impeccable timing made for some especially hilarious moments Saturday. His rapid-fire patter duet with Archuleta in the last act was a highlight; both men deftly conveyed the comedy of the situation not just physically, but also vocally. McPherson's bathtub scene in the second act nearly brought down the house; Peter Margulies' trumpet solo complemented McPherson's sweet, lyric tenor voice beautifully.

Director Rob Herriot kept the action as quick and zany as a "Road Runner" cartoon. Watch for an especially inspired bit of business involving Pasquale's servant Hop-Sing (Michael Cram) in the first scene. Susanne Sheston has been Utah Opera's chorus master since 2002, but this is her first time conducting a main stage production here, and it's an auspicious debut. The Utah Symphony gave a flexible, effervescent performance, and the Utah Opera Chorus made the most of its time on stage.

"Don Pasquale" offers plenty of goodies for the eyes as well as the ears: Tony Fanning's handsome and witty set, beautifully furnished with authentic antiques and packed with Wild West icons, including cacti, mariachis and an impressive array of taxidermy; and Helen Rodgers' richly detailed costumes (including underwear scenes for three of the four major characters).