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The cast of ''Così Fan Tutte", March 2009.
For those playing parts which were double cast, I have written a letter A if they played their parts of the first night, or a B if they were in the other cast.


Don Alfonso A (Geoff Horwood) breaks the news to Fiordiligi A (Anna Jeruc) and Dorabella A (Natasha Dobie) as to the imminent departure of their fiancés. They are understandably distressed. A maid (Rachel Haywood) stands by.
The chaps, Gugliemo A (Nicholas Bartlett) and Ferrando A (John Williams), appear and confirm this.

The girls beseech the boys to not go.
Why not have a little sotto voce quintet before separating.

The chaps have headed off to the front line, so now it's just a trio 'Ai Nostri Desire'.
The young Despina A (Hilary Pearce) quite enjoys her first ever taste of coffee.
She can't understand why the girls are so upset.
Neither can Depsina B (Katy Butcher). 'The mice can play while the cat's away.'

Dorabella sings an aria, inviting misery and despair to come and take her over (?)
Despina cheers her up with some coffee.

Don Alfonso B (David Rose) brings Despina into his cunning plan, with the help of a little gold.
Don Alfonso A introduces two Albanian lords to Despina as potential partners (to find if she can see through the disguises).


She doesn't (and they are 'too drastic'). As she is deemed to be more intelligent than the sisters, surely they won't either?
The lords, Gugliemo come Antonio B (me) and Ferrando come Sempronio B (Philip Hayes) are introduced to Fiordiligi and Dorabella, like 'two fluttering butterflies' they are 'drawn into orbit' around these two charming ladies.

Don Alfonso makes it clear that these gentlemen are his friends, and should be given a warm reception.
However the sisters are not impressed. Fiordiligi sings her famous song, 'Come Scoglio.'

The chaps are delighted by the girls' obstinance. Ferrando sings his soppy tenor song, "Un auro amorosa" or "my love is a flower."
The sisters do a bit of sewing.

The Albanians each gulp down a bottle containing arsenic, henbane and strychnine.
That does them no good at all!

To the rescue comes Dr. Fatalis.
Is she reviving them using a magnet?
Seems to have worked!

It is, of course, a trick to induce some sympathy into the girls. No poison was taken and the Doctor was Despina.
"Is this Eden or Valhalla?"

Alas the magnet has made them become a little too passionate!
Despina again tries to cajole the girls into becoming less faithful.

As the does the other Despina.
She cajoles them into dancing at least, here a three-pointed star.


Now the idea isn't quite so out if the question.

Dorabella thinks she'll have a little fun with the handsome dark one.
And they're still dancing!

They reconvene and, hmmmmmmm.
Gugliemo gives her a heart!

And now she yields easily.
Fiordiligi  puts up a firmer resistance.
Ferrando finds out about Dorabella's faithlessness and is a broken man :(.
Gugliemo sings his song "Donne mie la Fate a Tanti", questioning women's fickleness.

The song continues.
 The chaps start discussing plan C to make Fiordiligi break her word.

      Plan C is not a lot different a plan B,  or indeed plan A. Ferrando, kneels down and points a dagger towards his chest. Another form of emotional blackmail.
Guess what?  It worked!


   Women are all the same, "Così Fan Tutte!"
The sisters agree to marry the Albanian Lords. But then, all of a sudden, their previous fiancés return a little early!
They are given a warm welcome home by Don Alfonso.....
.... but not so by the sisters.
"Dearest love, why so pale and so silent?"

Gugliemo discovers the notary "Qui que fa?"

It's Depsina. How about that?
And what is this, a marriage contract?

"You will not escape my vengeance!"
The Albanians return. May I have my heart back, please?

The identity of Dr. Fatalis is revealed!
  The experiment is complete. I guess everything goes back to normal again. :)

Now for a few off-stage photographs.

Here are Gugliemo and Ferrando in their first scene costumes.
And here they are as Albanians (both moustachioed, this time).

Here are Ferrando and Don Alfonso.
And Depsina with Ferrando.

Here I am in my chorus outfit, with another chorus gentleman Michael Bilenkij.
And here I am with Fiordiligi.

Here are some more chorus personnel (Madeleine Tickner, Mike Taylor, Claire Moore and Michael Bilenkij.
Here are the two maids (Celeste Handford and Rachel Haywood).

And here are some of the younger townspeople.

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