Orpheus In The Under(wear) World – by Jacques Offenbach
Orpheus in the Underworld
Things are turned upside down when the gods of Mount Olympus pop down to hell to rescue reality starlet Eurydice (as seen on ‘The Only Way is Delphi’) from the clutches of the demonic dandy Pluto. There’s only one problem. Her husband doesn’t want her back . . . All inhibitions and extraneous garments are shed in this riotous comedy, given a fresh update in this slick, chic production by Opera South East. Celebrity culture meets classical mythology all wrapped up in a show which puts the ‘Devil’ into vaudeville.
Box Office: 01424 462288. www.whiterocktheatre.org.uk
Opera South East together with its earlier incarnation, Hastings Opera, was for many years part of the ‘look’ of Bohemia Road. It stored its costumes and props at No. 111, courtesy of the Magdalen & Lasher Trust. In the shop window were displayed photos from their many productions, including a very large picture of Peter Grevatt as The Mikado.
OSE had to move premises a couple of years ago, when three of the shops were converted in to houses, but they are still based in Bohemia Village, in St. Peter’s Road, but sadly no longer with a shop front.
PRESS RELEASE (Oct 2012)
Opera South East, White Rock Theatre, Hastings, Friday/Saturday 2/3 November 2012
ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD by Jacques Offenbach
Things will be turned upside down at the White Rock Theatre in November when the gods of MountOlympus pop down to hell to rescue reality starlet Eurydice (as seen on ‘The Only Way is Delphi’) from the clutches of the demonic dandy Pluto, ruler of the Underworld.
There’s only one problem. Her husband, Orpheus, doesn’t want her back… In fact he positively revels in her death, until his spin-doctor advises him that it is probably in his interest to feign grief and beg the gods for assistance. A few well shed tears in public can do wonders for one’s ratings.
Only one thing might get in the way of this cunning plan. Jupiter, a ladies’ man of celestial proportions, has his eye on the nymph too.
Nothing is what it seems, and everything is as it shouldn’t be in Offenbach’s irreverent, mischievous and ever so slightly sexy send up, where chaos, confusion and cancans are the order of the night.
All inhibitions and extraneous garments are shed in this riotous comedy, given a fresh update in this slick, chic production by Opera South East. Celebrity culture meets classical mythology all wrapped up in a show, which puts the DEVIL into vaudeville.
Directed by Fraser Grant, and using his adaptation, specially prepared for this production, Opera South East welcome local celebrities, Jeremy Vinogradov playing the role of Orpheus, Lindy Everett as Eurydice and Peter Grevatt that of Jupiter, with Ian Parrett taking on the role of Pluto, and introducing Siobhan Blake Monteith as Venus. A number of the minor principal roles are taken by members of OSE, namely Karen McInally, playing Public Opinion, Sandra Lambourne that of Juno, while Mike Barber plays John Styx, Julia Bovee is Diana, Tanya Richards is, while newcomers Natasha Dallaway plays Minerva and Leslie Brisset plays Mars. There are small individual cameo roles for a number of the chorus so be alert or you’ll miss them.
With the support of the Sussex Concert Orchestra, leader, Andrew Laing, under the baton of Kenneth Roberts, this is a show that promises to bring a touch of end of the pier humour that will make you laugh and laugh. You CAN CAN not afford to miss it!
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