When Madame Chandelier’s daughter gets sucked into her video game and is kidnapped by the evil Queen of the Night, there’s only one thing to do – gather opera’s fiercest characters for an epic battle.
Through puppetry, dancing the cancan, and a whole lot of opera, critically acclaimed cabaret star Madame Chandelier takes us on a journey through the electronic world of phones, PlayStations, and Guitar Hero. Reflecting on every modern child’s true annoyance, being told to get off their screen.
Audience participation is a key part of this show with members from the audience being asked to come on stage as active participants – due to the anxious crowd this was mainly parents and unassuming adults. However, they did have small props for the children who weren’t quite brave enough to go up on stage so they could still participate passively.
Canadian soprano Delea Shand is the force behind the joyfully glamourous persona of this character, tearing down boundaries and expectations to bring opera to new audiences and generations.
Some darker aspects, along the lines of domestic violence and suicide, are mentioned, reflecting the original stories of the five classic works she gives her own unique twist to. Due to the very young nature of the crowd, I feel like at times, some of these lines where a tad too strong for small ears.
The show’s storyline itself is repetitive but also simple which works well for a family friendly show.
Overall, this is a great way for children to be introduced to the world of opera that isn’t too boring.
Madame Chandelier: A Grand Theft Opera, 12:15pm, The Green at Pleasance Courtyard, August 5- 16
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/madame-chandelier-s-grand-theft-opera
