29 February 2012 at 5.15pm | 10 Comments
Director of Opera, Kasper Holten said, "La Duchesse de Crakentorp is a non-singing comic role in Donizetti's La Fille du régiment. The part requires a strong personality, and has in the past been played highly successfully at The Royal Opera by actress and comedian Dawn French. In the spirit of casting a personality renowned for their work on the non-operatic stage, Ann Widdecombe proved to be an irresistible option, and we think she will be very suitable for this small, but important role in Donizetti's opera."
La Fille du régiment runs from Thursday 19 April - Thursday 10 May.
29 February 2012 at 5.15pm
This article has been categorised Opera and tagged Ann Widdecombe, Donizetti, La Fille du regiment, opera
This article has 10 comments
What a crass choice; Dawn French is a very experienced and highly talented actress, Ann Widdecombe is just another 'celebrity' making a living out of being humiliated on 'reality' television. For heaven's sake, ROH, get a grip, don't go for the lowest common denominator in a cheap attempt to generate publicity, cast a proper actress who knows what she's doing.
I couldn't agree more - for me, this will be the deciding factor in NOT coming to the production. Please change your minds ASAP!
Couldn't agree more with Douglas Lee. Dawn French was an absolute delight in this role with her immaculate comic timing and incredible stage presence. She is rapidly approaching National Treasure status. Ann Widdecombe, on the other hand, is National Joke.
I agree that the casting of a person whose comic qualities are not produced by skill but by lack of it is a quite shocking deviation from good judgment
Au contraire! I have tickets to La Fille du Regiment. I looked at the cast list and saw Ann Widdecombe had an acting part in it. MY reaction was GREAT! I am sorry for the four previous gainsayers - get a life! I will enjoy the evening. Will you!
Earlier tis year this production was at the Met, and they had kiri Te Kanawa. Later this year it will be in paris, and they have Felicity Lott. Two great Dames of the ROH stage. But who do we get - Ann Widdecombe. Sometimes I despair
I LOVE it!! :o)
Well, I was there! The unjustified ripple of applause when Miss Wiiddecombe took the stage indicated that maybe some people were there just because of her. Which was good! They heard some sublime singing from Patrizia Ciofi and Colin Lee and saw some wonderful acting by Miss Ciofi. The thunderous applause for all the singers, the orchestra and the the chorus - left no doubt that the opera had been hugely enjoyed. As for Miss Widdecombe, in her very small part she was delightfully inept with, I think, as many people laughing at her as with her - but it is a comic opera and a bit of ham acting does no harm. The memory that those of us who could see past Miss Widdecombe (pun partly intended) took home was of a gloriously sung, funny, happy evening. I was there - the gainsayers were not - I win!!!!
I saw it, the singers were amazing, funny and even touching at times but... every time Ann Widdecombe entered the stage or opened her mouth to speak, it brought a smile to my face. What a marvellous stage presence this woman has! Go and see it before you judge her.
Saw Ann Widdecombe, a bit like mixing pantomime with Opera. Didn't work for me someone like Dawn French (Joanna Lumley would also fit the bill) would be FAR superior. AW turned it into a bit of a farce, she can't act, can't speak French and lowered the tone although arguably funny in it's own way not for the ROH! Great shame and a bad choice.