Madame Butterfly August 15, 2008

John Bell, one of Australia's most influential actors and directors, is directing a new production of MADAME BUTTERFLY, the most frequently performed opera in the world, for Opera Australia’s touring company Oz Opera. This wonderful new production of MADAME BUTTERFLY comes to Riverside Theatres from Friday 15 August for three performances only.

Puccini's moving tale is set in 1946 in the historic city of Nagasaki, a year after the Japanese surrender to the United States. Cio-Cio San, a 15-year-old Geisha girl, falls in love with and marries Pinkerton, a lieutenant in the victorious American navy. But when it is time for Pinkerton to go back to the USA, he discards his fragile Butterfly. And so, caught between two worlds, Madame Butterfly waits. One fine day, she knows, he will return to her.

"I am very glad to be staging this wonderful work for Oz Opera,” said John Bell. “It is a piece that does not necessarily need the resources of a large-scale production: it is a simple domestic tragedy about relatively humble people. Hopefully we will be able to demonstrate the truth of the adage that small is beautiful."

Jane Parkin and Elisa Wilson share the role of Cio-Cio San, whilst David Corcoran and Jason Wasley alternate as Pinkerton. They are joined by Ian Cousins as Sharpless, Victoria Lambourn and Karen van Spall as Co-Cio San’s faithful Suzuki, Brendon Wickham as Goro, Rohan Thatcher as Prince Yamadori and Eddie Muliaumaseali’I as the Bonze.

John Bell explores the work's finely drawn characters against the backdrop of post-war Japan, a visually spectacular clash of traditional geisha designs and modern Western influences of the time. This is coloured further by Puccini's magnificent score, sung in English by the Oz Opera ensemble backed by an 11-piece chamber orchestra.


John Bell is one of Australia's most acclaimed actors and directors. He founded the Bell Shakespeare Company in 1991 and is on the National Trust's list of Australian Living Treasures. This is his first collaboration with Oz Opera, and he leads a creative team comprising the late Jennie Tate (Designer), Julie Lynch (Design Realiser), Matt Scott (Lighting Designer) and Simon Kenway (Music Director) as well as Japanese movement expert, Sachiko Tange.

Opera Australia's Oz Opera is the touring arm of the company. Oz Opera performs in communities both large and small across Australia, and gives many people of all ages their first experience of opera. Oz Opera aims to inspire and engage with adult and student audiences in Australia, beyond the mainstage programs in Melbourne and Sydney

MADAME BUTTERFLY
VENUE: Riverside Theatres, Cnr Market and Church Streets, Parramatta
DATES: Friday Aug 15 - Monday 18 August
TIMES: Fri, Sat, Mon at 8pm
SINGLE TICKET PRICES:
Mon Eve Adults $52, Conc & Groups $47, 30 & Under $39, 16 & Under $34
Fri & Sat Eve Adults $55, Conc & Groups $50, 30 & Under $42, 16 & Under $37
RIVERSIDESAVER PRICES:
Mon Eve Adults $44, Conc & Groups $39, 30 & Under $34, 16 & Under $29
Fri & Sat Eve Adults $47, Conc & Groups $42, 30 & Under $37, 16 & Under $32
BOOKINGS: Riverside Box Office 02 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Official Website: http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au