Handel’s RomCom at the Colosseum

It’s hard not to go to any production of a Handel Opera for me. Obviously, Mr Mrs Ms and Master Public don’t seem to have a similar problem. They often stay away in droves.

And yet! Not tonight. The glorious Colosseum, a Victorian Palace laden with curlicues of plaster and statuettes representing fables most people have forgotten, was full. Even the prospect of Opera in English didn’t deter them. Swarms. I don’t think there were more than a few seats free.

Even I had not been deterred by the prospect of this Händel opera in English. The version on my iPhone has an Italian libretto and I’m used to guessing wtf is happening and not really caring, because the music is so tasty. I thought, therefore, here’s an opportunity to discover wtf which, once seen on stage, would be far easier to understand than the curlicues of plot in most synopses.

And here’s what I discovered:

1. The plot is far sillier than I could have thought, had I not pre-realised that it was likely to be Baroque Plot number 4. ie this one loves the one but the other one disguised as a woman or a man, not sure which, loves the other one. Then there’s a battle and everyone marries another one and goes off deliriously happy.
2. The music is adorable despite a bit too much da capo shenanigans.
3. The singing was mostly marvellous.
4. The producer and Director think that if they put everyone in modern clothes it’ll be easier to work out the plot. Ooooooh woe is me! Suits and ties, bridge games, a toilet cubicle in the middle of the stage which is used frequently for the singers to express what they think if the production; graffiti, pratfalls up and down the sweep of the white staircase…and during one of the most heartfelt tasty arias, some idjit is hanging washing on a washing line conveniently located stage left.
5. The couple sitting next to me (mother and daughter) were delighted by it all. There I was gnashing my teeth and swearing under my breath and there they were having a wonderful time.

Was I being the Grinch, I wondered and realised: this is Handel’s RomCom! It’s supposed to be funny. But the producers, realising that this opera is a perfect example of the stereotype of German Humour, ie not funny, felt the need to ornament the action with every silly sight-gag they could dream up. So by the time Act 3 came blustering and making fart noises onto the stage, I tried really hard to find it funny. I really didn’t want to spoil the evening for the two lovely neighbours in Row E.

I of course gave them a copy of RAGAZZO to ensure they would remember the evening fondly, and also handed out a few more to various members of the unsuspecting public.

Let’s hope they all take away lovely memories.

(Note to opera producers: I Looooooong to see a production of a Baroque – or any – opera precisely as the composer and librettist would dream of seeing it, The ghost of Händel was screaming in my ears in agony – albeit between bibulous guffaws.)

I love you all.

BUY Ragazzo HERE if you want to read a novel in proper period costume.