Synopsis

A collection of six comic mini-operas, each about seven minutes long. For each piece, the words have been humorously updated whilst the music is mostly that of the original composer with a modicum of new and transitioning pieces by Christopher Wortley. They can be performed virtually anywhere … all that is required is a keyboard, the performers and a few simple props.

Each piece provides a lot of scope for either a new or an experienced director to make his/her mark and are ideal for amateur musical societies who regularly put on ‘songs from the shows’ concerts as something different or diverting in the middle. Alternatively, three or four could be run together as a 30 minute item for ‘opera-aficianado’ audiences.

Most of the pieces are scored for a single piano with a Soprano, an Alto, a Tenor and a Bass singers plus a non-singing performer/narrator. (In ‘Orpheus Can’t …’, the fifth performer is a ‘cello-playing Alto, but it is easy for a production team to work round this if no ‘cellist is available).

The accompanying pianist needs to be quite experienced - and because a lot of the music is based on real operas the singers need to be fairly competent … either used to singing opera or operetta, or at least having the full Musical Theatre range with an ear for opera. The scores include dialogue and notes to the director about the props that are recommended for the visual jokes.

The six titles are published in two volumes as follows:-

   Volume 1

• Cosi Couples - The story of ‘Cosi Fan Tutti’ – as if told on a TV chat show by the two couples themselves, using Mozart’s music
• Gingerbread Jinx - The story of Hansel and Gretel, but as eco-warriors in a pantomime style, using Humperdink’s music
• Ready, Steady, Cook - Two culinary teams compete in TV’s ‘Ready Steady Cook’, but as G&S characters using Gilbertian words and Sullivan’s music

   Volume 2

• Sleeping Beauty - A re-telling of the fairy tale with anti-ageing as an underlying theme, using music from Tchaikovsky’s ballet
• Orpheus Can’t But Pluto Can-Can - A re-telling of ‘Orpheus In The Underworld’ with much anticipation of the orgy at the end, using Offenbach’s music
• Miss Swan Lake - Learn how the story of ‘Swan Lake’ can be easily muddled with ‘Miss Saigon’, with music from Tchaikovsky’s ballet

Originally commissioned and performed by the professional touring theatre company, Fingask Follies. Read a pdf article about the Follies and the mini Operas in the 'Scottish Field' magazine here.

Characters