It is American musicals - the Richard Rodgers centenary in particular - that predominate the inaugural International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff. But two productions by Italian and Czech companies add a vital bit of grit to counteract the syrup.
In Fanny and Alexander's Requiem, Alice's dream in wonderland becomes Psyche's exploration of life's hell, where loss of innocence is as nothing by comparison with loss of control. It made for an uncomfortable spectacle, not least for the distraction of having the manic White Rabbit, his voice electronically distorted, accompanied by a live rabbit whose twitching descent from distress into drugged stupor at the side of the stage was symbolic of the violation of Alice Psyche. Pan's live goat suffered only the indignity of being dragged around, and it was unclear whether the gradual exodus of some of the audience was in protest at the apparent lack of concern for animal welfare or the aural assault of Luigi Ceccarelli's threatening and sometimes cacophonous score. Its blend of electronic effects with haunting lines of Gregorian chant and swathes of siren voices only really engaged when delivered by the figure of Aphrodite. Overbearing and traumatising, this piece nevertheless had a horribly mesmerising hold.
In Ta Fantasika's Johanka z Arku, Ondrej Soukup's techno score was a similarly uneasy mix of musical styles: from pounding Karl Orff to Clannad and sub-Eurovision Song Contest, dotted with medieval pastiche. It was sung in Czech without the benefit of surtitles, with minimal set and against a background of video sequences from its original Prague staging. The brilliant choreography communicated dynamically with the diminutive figure of Lucie Soralova as the Maid of Orleans. She delivered her simple but impassioned ballads with a sincerity and guts that was disarming. The company of 14 presented Joan's campaign, her battles and trials with extraordinary commitment, and the moment of martyrdom - when the aluminium ladder that had formed a tall letter A on stage turned to become the stake at which she was burned provided an enduring image.
· The festival continues until November 3. Details: 0870 904 2003.
