Cast
Cenerentola – Simone McIntosh
Don Ramiro – Charles Sy
Dandini – Daniel Thielmann
Don Magnifico – Peter McGillvray
Alidoro – Tyler Simpson
Clorinda – Nicole Joanne Brooks
Tisbe – Gena van Oosten
Production
Conductor – Leslie Dala
Director – Rachel Peake
Reviews
“If there is a baritone anywhere who can deliver the comic role of Don Magnifico better than Peter McGillivray, I’d like to hear him.”
-David Gordon Duke, Vancouver Sun
“What really drives things here is the Looney Tunes physicality, most outlandishly in the case of the greedy stepfather, Don Magnifico. Peter McGillivray, so memorable as Petrovich in The Overcoat—A Musical Tailoring last spring, is a bewigged buffo here, making the most out of every moment. Just watch him crawl on all fours across the dining table to suck up to the prince, or throw a tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants.”
-Janet Smith, The Georgia Straight
“Peter McGillvray is magnificent as the foolish and pompous Don Magnifico. The Sudbury baritone’s penchant for comedy is apparent when retelling his dream in the aria buffo Miei rampolli femminini sung in trio with Clorinda and Tisbe. McGillvray’s natural comic touch shines through again in his duet with Danilo (Daniel Thielmann) as the mischievous valet strings him along in Un segreto d’importanza.”
-John Jane, Review Vancouver
“Cinderella’s Wicked Stepmother has here morphed into a pompous male pantalone in a show-stealing performance by V.O.’s favourite basso buffo Peter McGillivray (remember him from The Overcoat last year?).”
-Lincoln Kaye, Vancouver Observer
“The audience favorite of this production was undoubtedly the Don Magnifico of Peter McGillvray, an actor with a phenomenal gift for physical comedy. Whether chewing the scenery in his Act I dream narrative, ‘Miei rampolli femminini,’ blubbering hysterically during his bogus account to Alidoro of his stepdaughter’s death, or clambering over tables and chairs to ingratiate himself with the prince in Act II, McGillvray projected an irresistible exuberance and joy. As well, his singing had much to commend it: his enunciation and rapid-fire delivery of Rossini’s comic patter was arguably the most impressive of the entire cast.”
-Nicholas Krusek, Vancouver Classical Music
“Peter McGillivray as Don Magnifico, the step-father trying to advance his daughters’ interests… was funny from start to finish, with great moments of slapstick, and a rich baritone to match.”
-Melissa Ratcliff, Schmopera.com
“Even the role of Don Magnifico (a buffo bass) needs a voice as nimble as it is muscular and Peter McGillivray was hilarity itself as Cenerentola’s sycophantic, self-serving step-father. He also was physically agile, a decided plus for the slapstick elements of Peake’s direction.”
-Robert Jordan, Opera Canada
