Oh, Melodic Mullet

The Barber of Seville works equally well as a classic comic opera or a classic Nick at Nite sitcom. Granted, it would be a sitcom sung in Italian, but zany shenanigans would ensue nonetheless. Seventeenth-century Spanish Count meets girl. Seventeenth-century Spanish Count falls for girl. Seventeenth-century Spanish Count enlists the help of the town hairstylist, distributes an assortment of well-placed bribes and dons various disguises to win the girl's heart and hand in marriage. Romantic rivalries, dubious trickery, backhanded bamboozlement, splentristic fundunery—Gioachino Rossini's legendary masterpiece has it all. While perhaps most famously parodied in the old Bugs Bunny cartoon Rabbit of Seville, this historic piece of music has also been co-opted by Hollywood in varying capacities. If you've seen Mrs. Doubtfire, The Godfather or Space Jam (and you know you have—especially Space Jam), then you're already familiar with Barber of Seville's sweeping sonic movements. The Barber of Seville premieres 7:30 p.m. Friday, with additional performances on Wednesday and December 9 (as well as a 2 p.m. matinee this Sunday), at the Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 First Ave. Ticket prices range from $19 to $255. Call 214-443-1000 or visit dallasopera.org.
Fri., Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 3, 2 p.m.; Wed., Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.