M A G G I E
C O O P E R
R e v i e w s
Madame Butterfly (title role) for Opera Up Close at the Kings Head Theatre, London
The Times
‘Happily, the opening night Butterfly, Margaret Cooper, one of three sharing the role, is captivating. In her gaudily lit apartment, suggestive of a neon-lit, tawdry existence, she is naive and delicate, yet tough, touching and never cloying. Her eyes glitter with ardent hope and flood with pain; and she delivers the famous aria One Fine Day with searing power and passion. All the inconsistencies are worthwhile to see this Butterfly spread her wings.’
Sam Marlowe
The Independant
‘The effect on Butterfly’s character is minimal (soprano Margaret Cooper conveyed fragility in hooker heels and hotpants as well as she might have done in an antique kimono), but the effect on everyone else is profound.’
Anna Picard
The Observer
‘...and Butterfly (Margaret Cooper) kills herself by putting a gun to her mouth....the voices...are none the less strong, full of promise and musical intelligence’.
Fiona Maddocks
The Stage
‘But there’s nothing masculine, camp or vulgar about this supposedly shemale Butterfly-for-rent, sung by Margaret Cooper with a good deal of vocal and dramatic expression.’
Edward Bhesania
What's On Stage
‘One conspicuously strong performance saves the production...Margaret Cooper could carry the role of Cio-Cio San in any opera house; she has a superb voice, magnetic eyes and stage presence to spare. I cannot vouch for Cooper’s fellow Butterflys but on this showing she, well supported by Elspeth Wilkes’s discreetly secure musical direction, earns the show a second star.’
Mark Valencia