Masterpiece of a Masterclass

On Friday night I was lucky enough to be given tickets to see Master Class at the Vaudeville (which is my favourite London theatre). Even though the plot of the show is pretty self evident when looking at the title, I was still not sure what to expect. McNally tells the story of the opera singer Maria Callas by showing her conducting one of her opera master classes in the 1970s. Sounds pretty boring right? Wrong. This is mainly because the play is made so dynamic by the stellar casting, the imaginative writing, the beautiful direction and just the right amount of audience interaction.

Tyne Daly

Tyne Daly (of Cagny & Lacy fame) gives an outstanding performance and completely transforms into Callas, so much so that she is completely unrecognisable. She really captures the role by continually engaging the audience with questions, eye contact, and in-jokes. Most of the show involves Callas critiquing three young opera singers. She portrays Callas as being a cross between a diva & Simon Cowell, with hilarious consequences. She paces the stage barking directions, corrections and orders at the poor singers. She delivers crushing lines, but with such verve that you can't help but love her (seriously put this woman in X factor & the ratings would surge). She commands the stage brilliantly and is the run away star of the show. A few times, the performances of the students triggers such an emotional response from Callas that she is transported back to an event in the past, and the scenery melts away with her. These few soliloquies are where Daly really shines, and you can completely understand why she acts the way she does.

Naomi O'Connell

The supporting cast were also excellent (though not in the same league as Daly), the three singers were played by Dianne Pilkington (who I have seen as Glinda in Wicked), Garrett Sorenson (who sang the aria from Tosca's first act gorgeously), and Naomi O'Connell (who gave the most amazing frustratingly aggressive performance of Verdi's Lady Macbeth, whilst being heckled by Callas). Even the accompanying pianist (Jeremy Cohen) is a very endearing character in the play, and plays beautifully throughout.

Dianne Pilkington

I don't know much about the life of Maria Callas (apart from what I gleamed from seeing Onassis last year), so I don't know how true this was to life, but in the end I don't think that really matters (unless you are an expert on the subject I suppose), as the play is magnificent. Similarly, I am an opera neophyte, and have only been to one performance of Faust, but I still enjoyed the whole performance immensely for both the wonderful music and the incredible acting. It was very obvious that it was written, directed (Stephen Wadsworth) and performed by opera lovers, and I think that someone more knowledgeable would get more out of the play.

Garrett Sorenson

All in all I think this is easily the best thing I have seen in the theatre in a long time, and whilst the premise doesn't sound great, please don't judge the show on it. If you are going to see one thing in the West End see this and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. 

My verdict:   10/10

Have you seen Master Class? What did you think?


Kat x

Photos from google image search