"The Fort Worth Opera Festival’s Daughter of the Regiment is a hoot. It could hardly be otherwise with Joyce Castle, that wonderful comedic mezzo, as a precariously imperious Marquise de Birkenfeld, or with Darren K. Woods as her bewigged, bedraggled and ear-trumpeted major-domo, Hortensius. Woods croaks out notes meant for a bass, but it’s mainly a speaking role, which he delivers brilliantly.

Yes, that Darren Woods, the company’s general director, but in earlier years a character tenor. Add the sensible decision to perform the opera in English, and stage direction by Dorothy Danner, who doesn’t miss any opportunity for shtick or gag, without quite overdoing it. The Saturday-night opening, at Bass Performance Hall, was easily the area’s most entertaining operatic experience of the 2012-2013 season."

--Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News

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