Now it's opera on water skis

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 14:45

Ask most people what they know about opera and chances are you'll get the same response. That it's stuffy, high-brow nonsense; expensive, centuries old entertainment sung in a foreign language.

Well, they'd be wrong, for opera isn't as stereotyped as you'd think. Not only is it inexpensive, followers often go to the opera wearing jeans instead of dressed to the nines. Characters are larger than life, there are subtitles (the story is easy to follow just watching the onstage actions and listening to the emotion expressed in the music), and when you take the subject matter into account – adultery, poison, savagery – it makes EastEnders seem like a Disney cartoon.

Consider, then, Gioachino Rossini's The Italian Girl In Algiers, which kicks off the first of three performances at the Festival Theatre tomorrow.

A modern reworking, courtesy of acclaimed theatre director Colin McColl, the New Zealander has brought opera right into the 21st century. Featuring a multi-media set full of visual and aural delights, it's a riot of space-hopping beach babes, duets sung on water-skis, and small screen heroes with big screen egos. It's also the first opera to use green-screening.

"I don't think they've ever done anything like this before," says mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, who plays Isabella.

"The new style of things is a great way to introduce younger audiences to opera, and it's a first for me. Some of the purist reviewers didn't take to it, but then, if you want a more traditional opera, go see that. But if you're up for a good time and want to see something a little different, I think you'll love it."

Set in a TV studio during the filming of a popular Latino soap, love-rat Mustafa ditches his wife and decides it's high time he bagged himself an Italian beauty. The young, gorgeous and conveniently Italian Isabella (Cargill) arrives on the scene looking for her hunky lover, Lindoro.

Mustafa can't keep his eyes (or hands) off her and packs Elvira off so he can have his wicked way. Meanwhile, Isabella and Lindoro plot their escape. With things really hotting up, will Mustafa manage to put a spanner in the works?

"I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say there's loads of overacting going on," says Cargill, a three-time award-winner.

"You can tell Rossini was young when he wrote it (he was 21), there are lots of big gestures, and I stick my boobs in everyone's face a lot of the time. In fact, when McColl was researching soap operas for this show he came across an aptly-titled show called Without Breasts There Is No Paradise."

With work taking her all around the world, it's not been easy being a busy opera singer with a young family around. A sickness bug caused a bit of havoc among the cast during early performances, however, the Arbroath starlet does enjoy a laugh, and, when she's in the mood, watching X-Factor.

"My child is just learning to walk and I travel Europe a lot, which is tough," says the 33-year-old.

"I need a lot of sleep to keep my voice in good condition, and there have been a lot of late nights. I was feeling a bit unwell during the early shows and one girl, who was pregnant, fell ill, too. The show has been going well, though.

"My favourite scene involves two people singing on water-skis while I'm offstage howling with laughter. I also have to say I really do love X-Factor. Apparently they're going to be doing an X-Factor show where they turn pop stars into opera singers. Hopefully I'll be on the judging panel for that one."

The Italian Girl In Algiers, Festival Theatre, Saturday, Wednesday, Friday, 7.15pm, 14-62, 0131-529 6000