Adelmo Guidarelli is not a vocally challenged comedian poking fun at opera, but a legit baritone—poking fun at opera. With all the props of the barber in Sweeney Todd for his “Figaro” number, he is assisted voluptuously by Ruby Laurance—stunning in her sequined gown.

The heart of the show was the Medley of Opera Melodies highlighting some “abuse” of operatic music in various settings, such as the classic Wagnerian, “Kill the Rabbit,” to the side-splitting “No More Rice Krispies” TV commercial, as set to the tragic “Vesti la Guibba” from I Pagliacci, give Adelmo kudos for pointing out that the best music in The Phantom of the Opera was lifted by Lloyd Webber almost note for note from Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. Much of this was very funny stuff, but some could have been cut as the show did run a bit too long and some of the bits (operetta with baseball themes) needed to be simplified with less “business.”

Guidarelli delivered a few straight opera arias (“Toreador Song”) that showed off his able baritone. His impressive voice was better when he dropped his jaw for the open vowels and, although the show was mostly comedy, there is a serious artist in there obviously trying to sing his best — even under these circumstances.

When all is said and done (and most was), a diverse group of people should be able to find much humor in Operation Adelmo, be they opera lovers or fans of rapper/hip-hop’s (“Baby’s Got Back”) Sir Mix-A-Lot!

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
March 27, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org