Don Pasquale, by Gaetano Donizetti, is one of the most delightful productions of the season at the Metropolitan Opera. With four outstanding singers, it is one of the highlights of the repertoire. Eleonora Buratto made a sensational debut as Norina. She has the self assurance of a future opera superstar in her acting and voice. She has a powerful voice reaching the high notes with incredible ease, with a beautiful timbre. She is adorable on stage, without any inhibitions, as she reads a silly novel on her terrace and then puts on her stockings. With the arrival of Dr.Malatesta ((a sonorous Levante Molnar) to plot the undoing of the title's character, she even throws flower pots with aplomb. Javier Camarena has already caused a sensation at the Met singing numerous encores, which were not originally permitted at the house. He did not disappoint the audience, with a magnificent encore of his major aria. His voice is thrilling, powerful, beautiful, and he is destined to be a leading world wide tenor. The fourth wonderful performance was delivered by Ambrogio Maestri in the title role. He brought down the house with a brilliant duet in the third act with Dr. Malatesta. The orchestra played the bubbling music marvelously, under Maurizio Benini. It was one of the most memorable evenings ever at the Met.
 

A revival of She Loves Me, book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, at Studio 54, is a modest musical about two shop employees (Zachary Levi and Laura Benanti), who write letters to each other anonymously through a lonely hearts club. They enjoy their letters, but at work they do not seem to care for each other. The music is pleasant, the lyrics are intelligent and the choreography by Warren Carlyle is minimal. However, it is a warm, sentimental  theatrical experience, and the entire cast is first rate, under the skillful direction of Scott Ellis The set design by David Rockwell is a delight.

 

Blackbird, by David Harrower, at the Belasco Theatre, was seen Off-Broadway nine years ago, and with a different female lead Michelle Williams has transferred to Broadway. Jeff Daniels is the male lead, and both actors are directed by Joe Mantello. It is an unpleasant ninety minute play about a confrontation fifteen years later between a woman who was seduced when she was 12-years-old and a pedophile who went to jail, changed his name and works in a different town. The two actors as damaged souls work hard to give life to a play that is unbelievable.
 

The Robber Bridegroom, book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry, music by Robert Waldman, is a pleasant fairy tale musical with a fine nine member cast and five talented musicians, directed by Alex Timbers, with lively choreography by Connor Gallagher. The amusing tale is about a robber (Steven Pasquale), who, after many adventures, marries the young girl (Ahna O'Reilly), whom he unknowingly had seduced. The music is easy to listen to and the cast moves with aplomb on the small stage.
 

Hold On to Me Darling, by Kenneth Lonergan, directed by Neil Pepe, is a production of the Atlantic Theater Company. It is about a 39-year-old country western superstar (Timothy Olyphant), who is an immature,  whining baby. He returns home to his small town in Tennessee for his mother's funeral, and wants to give up his life and run a feed store. It is a long, overlong play about his dissatisfaction with his 200 million dollar life.