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Orpheus in the Underworld
Visiting Company
World Premiere
Offenbach’s irreverent romp features some of the funniest dialogue and daftest situations in French opera. Updated to the present day, director Oliver Mears (Artistic Director of Northern Ireland Opera) draws gleeful parallels with our media-savvy, celebrity-obsessed world.
A Scottish Opera co-production with Northern Ireland Opera.
Eurydice is married to Orpheus, a musician who, in her opinion, plays the violin badly. Really badly. Fed up with her husband, she falls for the randy and devious Pluto. Meanwhile, bored to tears and spying an interesting situation unfolding, Public Opinion muscles in to ‘help’ Orpheus rescue his wife. But does she want to be rescued?
Offenbach’s catchy tunes and wicked sense of humour take the characters from one ridiculous situation to another, all culminating in his riotous ‘Cancan’. With a specially commissioned translation by comedian and political satirist Rory Bremner, this promises to be a fast-moving evening of wit, mayhem and madness.
A new translation by comedian and political satirist Rory Bremner.
Main Theatre
User Rating ★★★★★
Rated: (5/5), based on 1 rating
With piano accompaniment Recommended for ages 14+
(adult humour)
Wheelchair Access
Guide Dogs welcome
Induction LoopPLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ARCHIVE ENTRY. THIS SHOW IS NO LONGER ON SALE.
Cast and Creative Team >
New translation by Rory Bremner
MUSIC DIRECTORS/PIANISTS
Claire Haslin/Ruth Wilkinson
DIRECTOR
Oliver Mears
DESIGNER
Simon Holdsworth
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Kevin Treacy
CHOREOGRAPHER
Anna Morrissey
CAST
Orpheus - Nicholas Sharratt
Eurydice - Jane Harrington
Public Opinion - Máire Flavin
Jupiter - Brendan Collins
Diana - Daire Halpin
Pluto/Aristaeus - Gavan Ring
John Styx/Mars - Ross McInroy
Venus/Cupid - Marie Claire Breen
Juno - Olivia Ray
Mercury - Christopher Diffey
Comments
Patrick John Gordon Shaw ★★★★★
20th August 2011
Let us hope that not TOO many legs get broken and that the anticipated success of the piano-accompanied performances will lead to further performances in larger houses! GO FOR IT SCOTTISH OPERA!!
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Janice Crean ★★★★★
2nd November 2011
Really enjoyable show. Great singing and especially acting of the mostly young cast - you have to able to act well these days if you are in opera. Much was demanded of the cast and they all did well. Loved the risque jokes - audience all came out grinning widely and saying how much they appreciated the humour. Good direction , imaginative production. Tremendous.