Pagliacci review – Leoncavallo’s grand guignol staged with insight and commitment

Lyceum theatre, SheffieldNineteenth-century verismo becomes 21st-century psychodrama, as English Touring Opera dramatise this tawdry tale of jealousy and violence with a keen eye for the dramatic image Heralding a new era, Pagliacci and The Gondoliers are the first English Touring Opera productions to premiere in Sheffield, the company’s new home city. If the latter was a palpable hit on opening night, Leoncavallo’s slice of operatic grand guignol was less so, despite director Eleanor Burke’s valiant attempt to turn 19th-century verismo into a 21st-century psychodrama. Some things work here and others don’t. Pointing up Nedda’s enduring love for Canio even as she plans to elope with Silvio heightens the final tragedy. Having the outstanding ETO ensemble portray the demons inside Canio’s head, urging him on to commit the final act of violence – here, strangling Nedda with a telephone cord – is a powerful device. Zeynep Kepekli’s meticulous lighting design ensures they are a watchful presence throughout while highlighting the prurient voyeurism that compels audiences to revel in other people’s domestic misfortunes. On the downside, while programme notes speak of B