Review: Pagliacci at Lyceum Theatre

“…vocally exemplary…you do not want to miss this one.“

Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

By Sophie Dodworth

English Touring Opera’s new production of Pagliacci hits the Sheffield Lyceum for one night only at the start of its UK tour. Ripped from the headlines, the company brings a real-life crime case from composer Ruggero Leoncavallo’s own childhood, to life, on the stage.

Opening the performance, we meet Tonio, played by Matthew Siveter. Addressing the audience directly, you are immediately drawn into the action with his engaging charisma. He reminds the auditorium that what’s about to unfold isn’t just a performance, but a true story driven by genuine love, jealousy and heartbreak. The setting is in a Sicilian village, where a travelling theatre troupe arrives. What initially feels jovial, quickly becomes tense, as Canio’s (Ronald Samm) jealousy over his wife Nedda (Paula Sides), simmers beneath the surface. When Tonio discovers her affair with Silvio (Danny Shelvey), everything begins to unravel. Despite his heartbreak, Canio is forced to perform. As the play mirrors real life, the line between acting and reality completely collapses and tragedy takes over…

The cast were quite the cut above; it takes considerable talent to be able to hold in ‘freeze’ for some time without allowing your eyes to wander. The decently-sized ensemble were in this situation many a time, executing the hold without a falter. The ensemble brought something special to this production, creating moments that felt genuinely new. All the leads were vocally exemplary. The operatic tone remained consistent throughout, and they all seemed to perform effortlessly, although some lacked a little volume at times, potentially a sound issue.  The screen with subtitles was such a welcome bonus, so none of the plot was missed, but with the clear diction from some, especially from Shelvey, at times you could let that drop. Powerhouses Samm, Sides and Siveter were all just superb, vocally grabbing you by the collar to pay attention.

The set was striking in its simplicity, with a super modern, minimalist aesthetic that allowed the performance to take centre stage.  With clean lines and no clutter, the focus really was on the lighting and the energy created by the cast, to wash the stage with atmosphere.  Hats off to designer Michael Pavelka.  The lighting was potentially unnoticed by some as it was subtle, but it played such a crucial role in shaping the environment. The shadows created were just so on point for adding dynamism, especially during the scenes where smoke machines were used. The cigarette smoking scenes were also beautifully accentuated with this effect.

An intense ninety minutes of drama – you do not want to miss this one.

Pagliacci plays at Lyceum Theatre on Saturday 21 March.

Sophie Dodworth is an experienced theatre reviewer. Prior to joining NAR she has written reviews for multiple review sites including The Reviews Hub, and sees reviewing as a lovely break from being a busy mum. Sophie has herself tread the boards, working full time as a professional singer many years ago and more recently in amateur productions.