Windfall’s entertaining ‘figaro’ marries old with new

By Katherine Beeson

Published Feb. 11, 2020

Boy meets girl; boy falls in love with girl; boy marries girl. That may be the case in standard romantic stories, but not when the groom is named Figaro. Windfall Theatre brings the very entertaining “Figaro” to its stage – a play by Charles Morey that is “freely adapted from ‘Le Mariage De Figaro’” written by Beaumarchais in 1778. The show is directed by David Flores and he has crafted a marvelous production from start to finish.  

Figaro, a steward in a count’s chateau, wants to marry his love Suzanne and many people are trying to stop them. Everyone has an agenda
including a lecherous married count who does not want to sign the marriage contract unless it includes taking Suzanne to his bed,  a housekeeper with an unusual promissory note that includes her own marriage to Figaro, and a lovely countess who wants the marriage to go on and will provide a dowry, but also wants to trick her unfaithful husband and recommit him to their marriage. Just when it appears
that a happy and surprise ending is in store, the chateau is turned once again into chaos with an elaborate mistaken identity plot.    

Morey’s script is wonderful with its period phrasing peppered in with more modern dialogue. The ensemble troupe takes his words and
delivers a fantastic show. The set is minimal to the max and the cast makes whatever stage changes are required in a stylized choreography that is very entertaining. Most sound effects are delivered old style by stage manager and Windfall Artistic Producing Director Carol Zippel.   

Sean Duncan plays Count Almaviva with just the right amount
of sleazy charm as he tries to make sexual conquests outside of his marital bed. While the entire cast was wonderful, special mention must be made of Chris Goode as the energetic Figaro, Cara Johnston as the beautiful and wise Suzanne, Sandra Hollander as the scheming Marceline, A. J. Magoon as the endearing Chérubin (and stern Doublemain) and Howard Goldstein in the multiple roles of Bazile, Antonio and Bridoison.    

If you go

Who: Windfall Theatre

What: “Figaro”

When:  Through Feb. 22

Where: Village Church Arts, 130 E. Juneau Ave., Milwaukee

Info/Tickets: 414-332-3963; www.windfalltheatre.com.