Sienna (Cayleigh Capaldi) commands the stage in a glamorous red dress that wouldn’t look out of place on the red carpet for the Oscars. She opens the show with Figaro (Prologue), one of the production’s stronger numbers. Her voice is tonally rich, with impressive range and control, and the song carries a slightly haunting quality.
As it concludes, bright lights flood the auditorium, momentarily blinding the audience, just long enough for Sienna to execute a seamless on-stage costume change, transforming into the humble farmer’s daughter she truly is. This striking and theatrical opening to Figaro: An Original Musical, staged in concert, set high expectations for the production and while the show had moments of promise, it ultimately struggled to maintain the momentum of its powerful beginning.
The story is set in Italy, where Sienna (Cayleigh Capaldi), a young woman feeling stifled by life on the farm of her father, Antonio (Daniel Brocklebank), dreams of becoming a singer. A chance encounter with two young children, Gianni (Cian Eagle-Service) and Amelia (Sophia Goodman), changes her life dramatically. They reveal that they were abandoned by their mother and are being raised in a traveling variety show run by the enigmatic Figaro (Jon Robyns). Seeing Sienna as a potential mother figure, they urge her to meet Figaro and join the troupe.
Figaro, captivated by her talent, welcomes Sienna into the show but his interest extends beyond the professional. Despite being in a relationship with Lucia (Aimie Atkinson), another singer in his show, he harbours strong desires for Sienna. Using a swinging pocket watch, he is able to hypnotise both Sienna and Lucia to control their behaviour. Sienna is befriended by Gia (Ava Brennan), the troupe’s costume designer, who has also played a significant role in bringing up Gianni and Sophia.
As a concert staging, the format provides an opportunity for the creative team to test Figaro: An Original Musical in front of an audience and make refinements before potentially developing it into a full-scale production. It does feel like the story would benefit from some tightening to improve its pacing and clarity.
The songs are enjoyable but not particularly memorable, and I couldn’t help but feel that adding one or two stronger numbers, or presenting some of the existing songs in a more dynamic way, would significantly elevate the show. That said, the cast is excellent, delivering strong performances that ensure there is still plenty to enjoy.
Cayleigh Capaldi delivers an impressive performance as Sienna, capturing both the character’s naivety and determination. Her vocal ability shines in numbers like I’m On Fire and I’ll Sing for You. Jon Robyns brings charisma, complexity and a touch of mystery to the role of Figaro, making him an interesting presence on stage. Ava Brennan is wonderful as Gia, effortlessly switching between a nurturing, maternal figure to the children, a warm and wise confidante to Sienna and a strong, resolute force against Figaro’s dominance.
As Antonio, Daniel Brocklebank is underused but his strong performance provides a necessary grounding to balance the musical’s more whimsical elements. Aimie Atkinson’s portrayal of Lucia adds an intriguing layer to the story, enhancing the narrative’s depth. However, the standout performances come from the young actors, Cian Eagle-Service and Sophia Goodman. Child performers can sometimes risk being wooden, overly theatrical, or annoying but these two are simply exceptional. They display the confident stage presence of seasoned professionals and provide some of the show’s most charming and heartfelt moments.
This world premiere of Figaro: An Original Musical introduces audiences to an ambitious new work, featuring a book by Ashley Jana and Will Nunziata, with music and lyrics by Jana and direction by Nunziata. The story explores timeless themes of ambition, love and the sacrifices required to pursue your dreams.
While the foundation of the show is strong, the production would benefit from some refining, tightening the pacing, enhancing the presentation of its musical numbers and sharpening certain character arcs to create a more cohesive and impactful experience. If these elements are fine-tuned, Figaro: An Original Musical has the potential to evolve into a compelling and successful show.
NEED TO KNOW: Figaro played on 3 + 4 Feb 2025 at the London Palladium
