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Tuesday, 15 July 2008 |
 Theatre Royal, Hobart
July 24-26
Puccini's Madame Butterfly was first performed in Milan in 1904. At this time, the Theatre Royal in Hobart had been in operation for nearly 70 years. Although the calibre of the entertainment there during the theatre's first few years was a world away from high-brow opera. Cock fights and music revues were the order of the day then, and the prostitutes and sailor's for whom the Theatre was a “stomping ground” would probably have scoffed at the delicate beauty of Puccini's masterpiece.
Times have changed.
Now, the Theatre is a truly cosmopolitan venue, housing acts from illlusionists to edgy theatre companies performing gritty contemporary drama.
And opera.
The Oz Opera production of Madame Butterfly, the story of a young Geisha girl, Cio-Cio San, and her ill-fated love for an American soldier, will be performed in Hobart from July 24-26.
Sung in English and performed with chamber orchestra, it will definitely be an unmissable show.
However, deep in the bowels of the theatre, one can still imagine those first “theatre folk” having a good chuckle. Don't let them put you off. Go to www.theatreroyal.com.au for details.
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