Andrew Stigler as Rev. Kimball, Rico Lanni as Bob the Saw, & Aaron Weininger as Weeping Wally in "The Threepenny Opera." Photo by Brian Gagnon.
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO Arts and Entertainment
The Wilbury Group’s “The Threepenny Opera” is a dark, at times madcap journey through the underbelly of Victorian London.
The work of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, “Threepenny” aimed to shock the audience, and broke the traditional bounds of musical comedy. The story follows Macheath, a street criminal who marries the daughter of beggar overlord Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum. Peachum’s displeasure with the marriage comes to a head when he endeavors to get Macheath hanged.
The show opens with “Mack the Knife,” but after that the show is devoid of melodious showstoppers.
That being said, the production does boast some top-notch talent. Rhode Island favorite Tom Gleadow lends his resounding baritone to Peachum; Karen Carpenter is moving as the prostitute Jenny and Katie Travers gives an impressive performance as Lucy Brown.
But elsewhere the show lacks refinement.
Director Josh Short has set up the theater cabaret style, with tables that put you mere feet from the action on stage. The set is simple, but the costumes by Sylvia Re are enough to feast your eyes upon.
“The Threepenny Opera” runs now through June 8 at the Southside Cultural Center on Broad Street in Providence. More information and tickets are available here.
