The Threepenny Opera Tickets

My family and I went to see the Signature Theatre's edgy and imaginative rendition of the Threepenny Opera. A lot of care is taken to immerse the audience in a barely-in-the future dystopian vision of London. I've seen more traditional performances of the work, and this production is very true to Brecht's intended critique of capitalism and "modern" society. A lot of liberty is taken with the lyrics and script, and I would have preferred to hear the original text. Between the altered words and stage direction, the show is highly sexualized to the point of being gratuitous. That dimension seemed disappointingly juvenile in the sense that the actors seemed to be playing for a reaction (shock? titters?) rather than making some kind of serious point. Prospective audience members should take the advisory (on the theatre's website) about content seriously. It's not a show for children, or for people who are generally offended by suggested or simulated sex or off-color humor. All that said, the individual performances are quite good. Mitchell Jarvis is increasingly believable as a menacing, murderous sociopath. He's not a big man in terms of physical stature but his Macheath is big enough on the inside to fill the house and - by the end - have audience members recoiling from the glint in his eyes. Natascia Diaz has an incredible sense of timing and dramatic sensitivity as a singer, and within a few lines created an enduring atmosphere of dread and unease during the opening song. Her Jenny was by far the most believable of the prostitutes, conveying a deep world-weariness and resilient courage. Above all, the singing is fantastic - some of the best I've heard in musical theatre anywhere. Erin Driscoll displays the most polished chops, but she has lots of company. This cast should record its own soundtrack.

This play was quite "dark" in theme and the music wasn't memorable and didn't help lift the gloom. Macheath, as played by Mitchell Jarvis, was certainly unsympathetic in his role as pimp, thief, murderer, and womanizer. I didn't think that the updating to modern times worked well. I and my friend felt depressed by the play. We were fortunate to turn on the radio on the way home and listen to the 9th inning of the Nats baseball game in which the Nats scored 4 runs to win 5-4. That was uplifting to our spirits especially after sitting for over 2 hours at the ThreePenny Opera.

It is difficult to state just how clever the music and acting and staging is. There were no weak points, but it doesn't quite get five stars because it isn't drawing a full draught of Brechtian goodness. I.e., the moral fiber of it is tacked on at the end. Still, the actors did a super job on opening night, and the songs and musicians were almost 99 percent in synch. Lots of cleverness, lots of shock value (which seems appropriate). Funny. Perhaps a little too hard to get into the main character (Mack) but he still deserves kudos.