Does the idea of a dying hooker reliving her past glories while accompanied by a blues band sound like your idea of a good night out in Barwon Heads?
If you were one of those people who thought opera was all about fat ladies singing in Italian, then the people from Emotionworks Cut Opera are aiming to change your mind with their version of Verdi’s most popular opera, La Traviata, at the Barwon Heads Community Hall on Saturday 25 March.
The aim of the production is to convince people that opera is for everyone, and they start by cutting down the running time of this cabaret style of opera to 90 minutes, just to make sure there is no dozing in the back seats.
And if the ladies of the night strutting their stuff aren’t enough to keep you awake, the production will also feature great jazz classics from the ’30s and ’40s.
Producers of the show are promising that even if you hate opera, you will love this show.
The story of La Traviata is the story of a prostitute, a fallen woman, surviving in a harsh world. Violetta, the heroine with a terminal illness, finds love for the first time with Alfredo and denounces her past, but is forced to give up this love by Alfredo’s father, Germont, a religious man, who does not want his family associated with a woman with such a dubious past.
The opera explores questions about decency and humanity and how virtue is often found where we least expect it.
Director Julie Edwardson has put together a strong cast including singers from Opera Australia and Vic Opera, as well as professional jazz and blues performers.
The show has an all-female chorus who will be channelling some of history’s sexiest icons, accompanied by the Cut Opera house combo.
The booking link for the show is www.trybooking.com/OMUU
