Passionate performances, a lively pace and some spectacular scene changes all help to make this modern production of Puccini’s classic opera a success. Director Stewart LAING has set the classic love story in 21st century New York, giving it a renewed energy and relevance for the modern audience while still remaining true to the original narrative.
La Boheme charts the story of young lovers, Mimi and Rodolfo, who fall in love at first sight during the depths of winter. The two leads give powerful, emotive performances which beautifully portray the tragic love affair between the two characters.
Celine Byrne is sweet and vulnerable as Mimi, while Avi Klemberg is wonderful as the passionate and spontaneous Rodolfo. Nadine Livingston shines as the outrageously flirty, yet fiercely loyal, Musetta.
The story has been adapted to the era, so that instead of being struggling artists and philosphers, the bohemians become graphic and video artists. Mimi’s pink hat, the final symbol of their love, becomes an intangible picture on a postcard. Cafe Momus becomes a contemporary art gallery, complete with conceptual light installations which make for a dazzling backdrop to Mimi and Rodolfo’s first night together.
In fact, this scene is the most visually arresting as the set changes fluidly to reveal different areas of the art gallery in impressively quick succession. One particular set is dominated by a number of giant, female mannequins all positioned the same way, which makes the humans on stage look insignificant as they scurry around them.
However, there are some scenes where the minimalism of the set is not an adequate backdrop for the beauty and tragedy of the story. In the final act where Mimi is dying, the stark, empty New York loft seems too familiar and ordinary for such a momentous event.
But despite these minor visual shortcomings, the opera still manages to touch the audience, mostly due to the passionate performances by the leads. Stewart LAING has powerfully evoked the essence of being young, poor and in love.
La Boheme is on at the Festival Theatre, Saturday 24th April at 7.15pm. See www.scottishopera.org.uk for details.
