Rockdale Opera Society’s production of ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD won’t disappoint in any respect. It is filled with love, hatred, betrayal, murder and scandal. With a story like this, set to Offenbach’s divine score, sung by a highly talented cast supported by a polished orchestra, this is a highly entertaining and dramatic night at the theatre.
ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD by Jacques Offenbach, originally premiered in Paris in 1858 in two Acts as an ‘opera bouffon’ to a libretto by Hector-Jonathan Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy. The work was later revised as an ‘opéra-féerie’ in four Acts in 1874 and it’s this version that the Rockdale Opera Society presents. The new English translation is by Greg Condon, Christopher Hamilton, James McCarthy and Simone Young with some revisions by Ralph Bott adding to the comedy and orchestrated by Jon Smith.
Offenbach’s comic and witty parody of the tragic Orpheus legend involving the Mount Olympus Gods of classical Greek mythology is a farcical romp through earth, Mount Olympus and the underworld. Eurydice hates her husband Orpheus and the feelings are mutual. She is having an affair with the farmer Aristaeus. Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies – not before Aristaeus reveals his true identity, at which news Eurydice is delighted! Pluto whisks her off to live with him in the Underworld. Orpheus is overjoyed at his newfound freedom. Public Opinion is outraged and so the plot continues.
As all 14 principal singers have wonderful voices, each bringing out the different characteristics of their parts, there are too many highlights to list. Stephanie J Poropat as Eurydice and Blake Parham as Artisteus/Pluto are excellent in the lead roles. Paul Sutton as Orpheus, Claire Chehade–James as Diana, Gordon Costello as Jupiter and Christopher Curcuruto as Mars also deserve special mention. The other lead singers Megan Chalmers, Tisha Kelemen, Rachael Fullston ,Elizabeth Beilharz, Daine Ellicott, Kate Wilmot, Rose Sapuppo, Rory Struthers and the ladies and gentlemen of the ROC chorus and Peter David Allison all bring light, colour, humour and excitement to this production.
This highly recommended production is brought together under the direction of Ralph Bott, choreography by Sami Shalom and the conductor Jon Smith. And who would want to miss the ”Can-Can”?!
But be quick as there are only 2 more performances on 6 and 7 August at Rockdale Town Hall.