Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld

Infidelity and frivolity. Gods of Fashion. Hell and the Devil. All in a days work at The Opera Studio in Melbourne.

Enter the magazine world of OPERA Inc., as Calliope (think Miranda from The Devil wears Prada) oversees the Spring Edition cover photo shoot, with celebrities the dashing Aristeus, (Pluto, the Devil in Disguise) and top model Eurydice, Calliope´s daughter-in-law. Eurydice is thoroughly entranced by the devilishly handsome Pluto. He wastes no time in using his magic to abduct her, and takes her home to Hades. Calliope, mindful of scandal and public opinion, is not amused. Orpheus´s delight at his wife´s departure is short lived, as Calliope forces her hapless son to go to Olympus to ask for help to bring his wife back.

On Olympus, the Fashion Gods are rebelling against Jupiter´s rule (think Karl Lagerfeld) and set about exposing his scandals and infidelities in order to overthrow him. They are interrupted by the arrival of Orpheus with his exquisitely dressed, overbearing mother.

In a fit of righteous indignation Jupiter announces that he will go to the Underworld himself to deal with the matter, and the fashion gods all beg to go too. Meanwhile, alone in the Underworld, Eurydice is cross and bored. When a diversion arrives in the most unlikely shape, she is naturally, tempted.

Pluto holds a swanky party, to which everyone is invited. The arrival of Orpheus and Calliope creates a stir and the glamorous Eurydice is forced to make a choice. With little regard for public opinion, she chooses her next conquest!

Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld opens this Thursday 28 July at 8pm, with two subsequent  performances on Saturday 30 July at 2pm and 8pm. The venue is St Kilda’s National Theatre.

Adult tickets are only $35, with concession tickets priced at $20.

Conductor; Trevor Jones
Director: Linda Thompson
Designer: Amanda Henderson
Lighting Designer: Robert Taylor
Choreography: Laura Frew

http://venue.nationaltheatre.org.au/?page=buy_tickets_online&id=163