Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1757-1791) composed the comic opera The Marriage of Figaro in 1786. The play was banned in Vienna initially because it was too debauch. Mozart’s rendition of the operatic version was approved later and went on to achieve great success – enjoyed even today.
The opera was staged in Nairobi from October 24 to 30, and in Arusha on November 1 and 2. It is based on an English translation by Tony Britten with sets designed by Edita Camm.

“It’s the first time that a fully Kenyan cast is performing Mozart’s opera,” said Camm.

Trained in classical ballet and visual arts in Italy, Camm developed a passion for opera at an early age. When she moved to Kenya 17 years ago, it gave her the opportunity to produce her own opera.

“At first I was only looking for mzungus,” she says. However, after watching the Kenyan opera, Ondieki The Fisherman, staged in April at the Braeburn theatre and written 40 years ago by Francis Chandler who was then an English teacher at Limuru Girls’ High School, she realised that there was no dearth of local talent.

The contemporary version is modernised and shortened to two hours and 15 minutes versus the original three-hour show.
“Mozart isn’t alive to tell us what to do,” jokes Camm.

Ian Mbugua plays Sir Cecil — a powerful middle-aged rich politician. He has an eye for the maid Susanna played by Julia Nakinga Luvai, a graduate in electrical and information engineering.

Philip Tuju is Figaro, who wants to wed Susanna but has to put his boss, Sir Cecil, in place. Maryolive Mungai plays Rosina, the leggy countess, who is Sir Cecil’s long-suffering wife. In real life, she is an actuarial science student at the University of Nairobi.

Maggie Gitu plays Marcelina, with an enhanced backside and blonde wig. She is a hilarious drama-mama who lends money to Figaro – and the deal is that if he doesn’t pay it back by a certain date, he has to marry her. And pay-back day is now.

In comes Cherubino — real life Mary Moipei, one of the internationally acclaimed members of the Moipei Quartet — who acts as the lad-in-love with every woman. He has an eye for his “gorgeous godmother” — the countess.

Sir Cecil wants to banish Cherubino to the Falkland Islands. To complete the comedy is the savvy Don Basilio the music master — real name Sylvester Makobi — and Don Bartolo, the family lawyer —he doubles as the gardener — played by Elijah Adongo.
In the end, everyone ends up happy with Figaro and Susanna together, and Sir Cecil forgiven by Rosina.

The pianists — Paul Nduati, studying medicine – and Julia Moss invested with an MBE for services to classical music in Kenya by Queen Elizabeth – keep the audience engaged with the tempo.

If Kenyan theatre keeps up the momentum with such sterling performances, it will revive its glory days.