Review: ORPHEUS IN HELL at The Castle Opera In Szczecin

A comic opera with music by Jacques Offenbach, directed by J.J. Polonski, the master of the Polish magical music scene (look at The Beaty and The Beast or Pippin!), which brings the opera feerie into a modern version. Laughter, wild metaphors, fabulous costumes, and a sprinkle of fairy tale magic are mixed like a smoothie made by a unicorn on a sugar high.

I will start with the cast: Dawid Kwiecinski, Yana Hudzovska, Aleksander Kruczek, Kamil Pekala, Malgorzata Zgorzelska, Agnieszka Nurzynska, Aleksandra Bałachowska-Jagusz, Pawel Wolski, Ewa Menaszek, Lucyna Boguszewska, Janusz Lewandowski, Lukasz Ratajczak, Sandra Klara Januszewska, and Maria Krahel do a great job. They bring to the table their superb voices and an impressive stage presence. Pluto and Mercure (Ratajczak)stole my heart (Kruczek), the first with his ruthless wickedness and the second with his infinite energy. At the top of it, there is the brilliant choir, like a collection of soloists who had somehow agreed to share the spotlight. It is like watching a talent show where every contestant is so good, you couldn't pick a favorite.

There are two ways to watch the show, funny and metaphorical. If you opt for the first tone, you will appreciate the tones of the funny moments and references that the director juggles like crazy. The Olimp is a TV show, Orpheus and Eurydice's frustrated marriage is sad reality TV, and all hell broke loose from cheap horror. Colorful, amazingly choreographed by Karol Drozd series of movements, series of comic situations, and lively action. All this is embellished with glitter and amazing voices. Every moment is precious and thoughtful as if each person on stage has their own performance to perform. Each of them is like a piece of French cheese (Offenbach was French after all) and they blended in a delicious chaotic fondue of tastes and aromas.

Apparently, I have a huge weakness for insect dancing. I would never say I'm an insect lover, but what's happening with the bees and flies on stage amazed me truly. Plus, the celebrity-filled Olimp is stunning. There's a glare for the eyes and ears and that could be it.

But if you dig deeper and look more metaphorically it doesn’t appear so funny. Gods on Olimp are not self-made, we as TV and social media users, put them there and now they govern our reality in a certain way. Public Opinion can be funny but also dictate what is acceptable and what should be reprimanded. Sound familiar? The microphone and camera team records the entire event and decides what is important and what the viewer should watch. Sound familiar? The gods play with people so that they have fun... the examples multiply and make my opinion bittersweet. But that’s the beauty of the next level of entertainment.

Photo: Fot. Dawid Stube©Opera na Zamku