The Barber of Bridgetown was really amazing actually. The Barber was nicknamed "The Fig" a rising rock star/guitarist.. he doubled as a lead in the orchestra as well as the lead role in the show.
On stage right (just outside the proscenium arch) was the drums, bass, and guitars. on stage left, there were more guitars, the keyboards and even a real harpsichord.
It was amazing.. the orchestra played the score flawlessly.. it certainly had a different character/timbre than a traditional orchestra but they did not unnecessarily "modernize" the music. The singers were all mic'd and the sound guy wasn't catching some of the clipping when either of the female leads hit the high notes.. but wow.. Rosalina was played by someone who I'd be surprised didn't appear in a regular POA production.
The set was understandably sparse and crude.. they used painter scaffolding and construction fencing. Bartolo's maid's character was pretty flat.. unless you were familiar with the plot/story, she(he) might have been a confusing addition to the cast. The music and singing more than made up for the simplistic set design.
Overall, it was nice to be inside (a somewhat air-conditioned environment) while it was in the 90s outside..
