It’s a wonderful production, vibrant and vivacious and real, with a fantastic cast, full of great singers and actors. As for Rinat Shaham, she’s wonderful, so energised. Like Carmen, I guess.
I play Escamillo, the bull-fighter, who steals Carmen’s heart from Don José. He’s a smooth character. Or thinks he’s a smooth character. He’s all show, and you see very little soul. But Carmen obviously sees something in him…
I play Escamillo, the bull-fighter, who steals Carmen’s heart from Don José. He’s a smooth character. Or thinks he’s a smooth character. He’s all show, and you see very little soul. But Carmen obviously sees something in him…
My favourite bits in Carmen are the big ensemble pieces. The Opera Australia Chorus are always so fantastic. They all give their own performance and then it all comes together as a one. The ensemble scenes and Act 1 and 2 are just brilliant. In fact, it’s a hard act to follow when I have to come on and do the Toreador’s Song… I have a few moves too, but I feel a poor cousin to the flamenco dancers, I can assure you.
There are dangers to dancing too! I was doing my flamenco dance in rehearsal a few weeks go. It all takes place in a bar, and everyone is dancing on the tables. Escamillo has this big suave move just for Carmen. At that moment my foot slipped off the table and I ended up on my backside, much to the pleasure of everyone in the room. As I picked myself up, still singing, I dropped in the words ‘did you like that?’ None of us could sing after that!
Escamillo is a big part of the story but he doesn’t actually spend that much time on stage, compared to Carmen and his rival, Don José. But when he does, it is always a big dramatic moment. Escamillo’s most famous number is the Toreador’s Song, and he gets to wear the toreador’s ‘suit of lights’ in the parade towards the end of the show.
The suit of lights costume is spectacular. It’s quite heavy and restricting. It certainly keeps your upper body taut and straight and postured. I guess it’s a bit like a suit of armour, although, quite frankly, not being a bull-fighter myself, I’m not sure how much good it would do against a charging bull! But with the cheering and singing and dancing and that brilliant parade music, which is a sort of medley of all the hits in the show, it's not hard to feel the part.
I saw Carmen yesterday and it was the best version I've seen - the production resulted in a lot more insight into the roles and motives of the players.
ReplyDeleteParticular mention to Rinat Shaham, who was very convincing in the lead role, as was Richard Troxell who played Don Jose. I also enjoyed Luke Gabbedy and Kanen Breen as the smugglers.
Of course, and as expected and anticipated, Teddy Tahu Rhodes was great.
Wonderful production!