by Rose Rushe
WARNING beyond PG tips. Opera Theatre Company’s ‘Rigoletto’ comes with a neon sign flash: ‘contains strong sexual content’ and ‘a considerable amount of simulated sex’. So in interview with conductor Fergus Sheil, also OTC’s artistic director, the exploration has to be, what else does this racy ‘Rigoletto’ have going for it?
He laughs, and accents the modern styling and “authentic” quality of its stealthy, warring relationships.
“When we designed the concept, well, first we perform everything in English so when you move from Italian, you’re taking from the original. We are doing a vision that is more immediate and have applied that to the setting as well, moving from 6th century Italy and taking it into an Ireland set in the 20th century”.
Marina Carr, great as the wordsmith of family smelt, did the translation from Verdi. Selina Cartmell directs this production.
“There’s no court,” Sheil makes clear. “The Duke (Luciano Botelho) is not a duke but nickname for one of the criminal underground figures. Rigoletto is one of the henchmen, his right-hand man. The Duke has lots of cash, lots of women. He has what he needs in life, lots of people around him and getting him everything”.
And what he desires is Gilda, Rigoletto’s sheltered daughter who wants what the heart wants – The Duke. Cue to the Company’s director emphasising the impact of this production, its visual beauty and excitement, sumptuous sets with surprising moves and overall shudder of dread feeling.
Re Rigoletto’s vigilant eye as pater familias, “There are elements in protecting his daughter that are a bit obsessive, he goes too far. As a daughter she is growing up and wants to spread wings, see the world, meet men, fall in love”.
Opera, of course, has a primitive way of playing out the human being, our propensity for high-octane romance, low deed and inevitable badass babes in the thicket. This storyline does honour the central love: “The father/ daughter relationship is so heart breaking, the sincerity of what is going on”.
A 12-strong orchestra will front the proscenium stage that is Lime Tree Theatre for this international cast and writhing of vile bodies, virtuous heart.
Bank holiday Saturday May 30 only, 8pm. www.limetreetheatre.ie
