The Lisbon Traviata

Archive Listings for The Lisbon Traviata

T1692826614 (TOWER05) Company Tower Theatre Company. Director John Field.
22 Nov 05 to 26 Nov 05	Bridewell Theatre, Inner London :: V171 listing details L02059517152
T01066258578 (KINGS03) Producer Kevin Wilson. Producer Sarah Earl. Company Theatre 28. Director Stephen Henry. Design Lisa Lillywhite. Lighting Hartley TA Kemp. Sound Sebastian Frost (Orbital Sound). Performer David Bamber (Mendy). Performer Marcus D'Amico (Stephen). Performer Matthew Thrift (Paul). Performer Tristan Gemmill (Mike).
12 Nov 03 to 21 Dec 03	The King's Head Theatre, Inner London :: V235 listing details L7305024

Details

Play :: The first act is set in the fussily ornate apartment of Mendy, a ferociously dedicated opera buff who begs and cajoles his friend Stephen to let him borrow his copy of the pirated Maria Callas recording of La Traviata made during a performance in Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen, a blocked playwright whose detailed knowledge of opera exceeds even Mendy's, delights in showing off his expertise while dodging his friend's entreaties, but beneath their often hilarious banter it is evident that both men are deeply unhappy--Mendy because of his loneliness, and Stephen because he is aware that his long-time partner (whom he loves deeply) is having an affair with someone else. Both it seems, are trapped within opera, with its grand but contrived passions becoming a neurotic substitute for real life. But in the second act, which takes place in Stephen's starkly modern apartment, reality arrives with stunning force as Stephen confronts his lover, Mike, and tries to salvage their relationship. Sensing his failure, Stephen turns on Mike and his new lover, Paul, driving the latter away and taunting Mike so venomously that all hope of a reconciliation is soon shattered. The tragic consequences of his behaviour are guaranteed to haunt Stephen for the rest of his life.

Author

Terrence McNally