Show Reviews

Venue: Laughing Horse

Opera Larks @ The Counting House

"Follow Donna Wannabe and Katherine Withakay (yes, really) through the trials, tribulations and transfers of flying to Las Vegas – all performed in astonishing tongue-in-cheek operatic style!"

"...the lively and entertaining nature of this show makes Opera Larks well worth a look in, as opera and musical favourites are put together and beautifully executed by these two classically trained singers, combined with bold comedy interaction. To be able to serenade a football with Nessum Dorma is surely a totally original and very entertaining talent on the part of these two shameless drama queens."

"The singing was exceptional. 'Danny Boy' was truly beautiful. However, these were not comedians who happened to sing, nor coincidentally funny singers: their balance between flawless opera singing and very funny audience interaction was perfect..."

Venue: Laughing Horse

Dear Larks,
Just want to tell you, that was an amazing show you put on. It was so funny and very very clever. Did you do this yourselves or have a director? I was one of the 'Ovarian Cysters' at your show on Saturday who got thrown upside down by the male dancer, then got a bang in nose with a leather football!! Well done you three.
Much love M Malone

Venue: Laughing Horse

Dear Larks,
Hi girls, just a wee note to say how much we enjoyed your show!!! It was so slick and totally entertaining!!! I’ m not an opera fan, but your show has changed my mind!!! absolutely luvvved it!!!
Well done and hope to see you at the fest next year!! keep on doin it for the girls!!!! loadsaluv and best wishes (the four women on the front row who cried at Danny Boy ) !!!!!!
H Brennan

Venue: Laughing Horse

"OH I LOVE the Free Festival. It is such fun watching the audience taking a punt on something and being pleasantly surprised."

"In this case it is great to see the look on the faces when the two comedy air hostesses who have just ushered us into our seats break into a beautiful rendition of the Flower Song, from Delibes' Lakme. (Yes, actually, you do know it - it is the British Airways theme tune)."

"Dawn Foxall and Diana Sharp are Opera Larks - a duo of classical singers who are honing themselves into a kind of operatic/musical sketch show. David Barnard, the accompanist, also takes on various roles and various dodgy accents as the pilot on this round-the-world flight."

"The writing of the sketches needs a lot more work but this show is still great fun, particularly when Foxall and Sharp try to upstage each other in the middle of a big musical number."

"You feel that being in the Free section of the Fringe programme means they have more chance to relax, mess about, and have a laugh - which is as it should be. But it also makes the audience doubly appreciative – of both their talent and their sense of fun."

Venue: Laughing Horse

Are We There Yet?' Hopefully not, because I'm not sure I've had enough! This performance is truly hilarious, blending famous arias and songs from musicals we travel from country to country, following our heroines as they make their way to Las Vegas. The circumstances arising are ordinary, but the songs accompanying them are so well-known and their lyrics so wittily exploited that you find yourself holding your belly in fits of laughter. The actresses interact with the audience and truly make use of their reactions. Both are very talented with surprisingly good voices, capable of singing both opera and mainstream jingles. The pianist is lively and always interferes in the action at the right moment. Fasten your seat-belts...