Theatre

The Beggar's Opera

Alan Hindle | Monday 8 August, 2011 12:14

Written in 1728 by John Gay to satirise the English fad for Italian opera, the play even more lampooned the rich and powerful of the day, such that its sequel, Polly, was banned by the government for fifty years. Am-dram theatre company YAP present a somewhat updated version of what is still a very funny play, squeezing an almost entirely female cast into flesh-spouting bodices and lacy thingie-things, with three-corner hats to set the period. A tiny band of two play a multitude of instruments in the corner, and quietly act up a sly storm. All voices in the show are not equal- a shame in a show sponsored by a vocal coach. Work on projection and confidence is needed. Some performers could not be heard above others, or even the instruments, and a voice, no matter how pretty, that can’t be heard is wasted. All rights of women were pretty much absent back then, as evidenced by being referred to throughout as ‘hussies’, but because this cast also get to play filthy, crooked, dumb, drunken, lascivious men they turn the issue on its head. A brilliant choice, if only because it counters this weird idea currently doing the rounds that women aren’t funny. I enjoyed the show quite a bit and my only real criticism concerns the music. Well played, but ballad operas of the time used popular music as backdrops for their scathing lyrics. Keeping the text and a flavour of 18th century costumes, a mash-up of Enlightenment and (just to make an easy reference) Lady Gaga would have helped make the point that society, politics and business haven’t changed so much in 200 years.

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