The Opera Locos, Peacock Theatre Review

Written by Emily for Theatre and Tonic.

Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are my own.

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Spanish theatre company YLLANA bring their eccentric, laugh out loud show to London. Opera certainly is not for everyone, but the five performers succeed in keeping the audience engaged for the duration of the performance, through humour, excellent singing, and quirky costumes. 

The show follows the five characters through a series of comedic scenes and love stories, with segments from a variety of operas intertwined throughout. Modern pop music is used at times, firstly in an early scene between pop-loving counter-tenor, Franelli (Michaël Koné) and macho baritone, Enrique (Enrique Sánchez-Ramos). Franelli’s segue into Mika’s “Grace Kelly” is a fun, energetic moment in the show and was met with rapturous applause. 

This momentum is maintained during the audience participation that follows. The audience is invited to take part in an “opera masterclass”, led by Enrique, which is essentially a group singalong. A few audience members on the front row get their “moment in the spotlight”, so be mindful of that when booking! Nevertheless, this definitely adds to the humorous nature of this section of the show. 

The cast is completed by Jesús Álvarez as worn-out tenor, Alfredo, María Rey-Joly as dreamy, naïve soprano, Maria, and Mayca Teba as wild mezzo soprano, Carmen. All commit to their characters very well and with great comic timing. Álvarez’s renditions of Puccini’s “Nessun dorma” and Sinatra’s version of “My Way” are show-stoppers. Teba’s bold interactions with the audience in her character’s attempts to find a date provide memorable comedy. 

Costume and make up choices enhance the production and add to its quirkiness. A few lighting cues were late, which meant that the affected performers were in the dark for a short time, but the lighting is generally used well and sets the tone for each scene. 

The Opera Locos is a fun show, with comedy at its heart, displaying the vocal talents of highly skilled singers. Opera fan or not, there are bound to be songs you know and you might just want to sing along (when invited to)!

At Peacock Theatre until 11 May 2024

☆ ☆ ☆