On February 13, the UK premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Marx in London! takes place at Theatre Royal Glasgow, earlier than transferring to Edinburgh. The kinetic new manufacturing is directed by Stephen Barlow (who final labored with the Company on Dove’s Flight), with a libretto by Charles Hart (greatest identified for his Tony and Oscar-nominated lyrics for The Phantom of the Opera musical and movie), after an authentic state of affairs by Jürgen Weber. Set and costume designs are by Yannis Thavoris.
David Parry conducts Roland Wood (Il trittico 2023) as Karl Marx, alongside Rebecca Bottone (The Mikado 2016) as his keen youthful daughter, Tussi, and William Morgan (Candide 2022) as her hapless suitor, Freddy. They are joined by Orla Boylan (Breaking the Waves 2020) as Jenny Marx, Lucy Schaufer (The Diary of One Who Disappeared 2020) as Helene, Alasdair Elliot (The Miserly Knight 2022) as Friedrich Engels, Jamie MacDougall (Il trittico 2023) because the Spy and John Molloy (The Barber of Seville 2023) because the Pawnbroker.
Originally written for the two hundredth Anniversary of Karl Marx’s beginning, Marx in London! had its world premiere (certainly its solely earlier presentation) at Theatre Bonn in 2018, in a manufacturing created and directed by Jürgen Weber. Future shows couldn’t go forward due to the COVID-19 lockdown, so post-pandemic, Scottish Opera requested Stephen Barlow to provide the eccentric comedy a contemporary take.
Set in 1871 over the course of a single summer time’s day, it’s an examination of the thinker’s extra human aspect. The spectre of communism is perhaps haunting Europe, however Marx’s demons are much more mundane and nearer to residence, and his private life is in chaos. Watched by a spy, chased by debt collectors, harried by his household (reliable and never), and rescued repeatedly from monetary damage by Friedrich Engels, audiences can anticipate a madcap manufacturing.
Marx in London! takes the good thinker off his pedestal, interweaving zany humour with moments of pathos and poignancy, plumbing the frivolity and profundity of 1 man’s existence.
Composer Jonathan Dove stated: ‘When Jürgen Weber suggested writing a comedy about Karl Marx, I found it irresistible that such a great thinker should have such a chaotic and even farcical private life. Marx in London! was premiered in Bonn, so I expected it to be sung in German — but Charles Hart’s libretto was so deliciously witty that they determined to maintain it in English. It might be a lot simpler for the viewers on the UK premiere to grasp! I’m wanting ahead to discovering in the event that they discover it as humorous as I do.’
Director Stephen Barlow stated: ‘Marx in London! — notice that exclamation mark? That’s the clue that that is no highfalutin opera in regards to the notorious nineteenth century political thinker. Rather it’s a romp by way of a madcap day when he’s beset by bailiffs, illegitimate points, British police, Prussian spies, Italian agitators, and intensely uncomfortable carbuncles on his backside! Careering musically and dramatically from the noisy streets and pubs of Soho to bucolic Hampstead Heath, through the tranquillity of the Reading Room of the British Museum, Jonathan and Charles shine a comic book, at occasions irreverent, but additionally poignant mild onto this difficult, contradictory man, and his despairing however devoted household and associates. So, an opera about Karl with the farcical enjoyable of a Marx Brothers’ movie!’
Those who want to uncover extra about how Marx in London! was created can attend Pre-show Talks, which delve into the element of the opera. Tickets are free however must be booked prematurely. Audience members with a visible impairment can benefit from the full opera expertise at Audio-described performances, which have a reside commentary describing the motion on stage with out compromising the music. There are additionally free Touch Tours of the set, and a reside audio introduction earlier than the beginning of the efficiency.
Performance diary
Theatre Royal Glasgow
13,15 & 17 February 2024, 7.15pm
Pre-show speak,15 February 6pm
Audio described efficiency, 17 February 7.15pm (Touch Tour at 6pm)
Festival Theatre Edinburgh
22 & 24 February 2024, 7.15pm
Pre-show speak, 24 February 6pm
Audio-described efficiency, 24 February 7.15pm (Touch Tour at 6pm)
