One of Australia’s foremost theatrical minds, John Bell, is bringing one of Puccini’s most famous operas to regional Victoria, for those who might think it “isn’t part of the world they live in”.
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Originally touring for two years over a decade ago, the English-language revival of Madame Butterfly is set to arrive in Ballarat on July 26, as part of a 28-stop regional tour.
Having established Bell Shakespeare in 1990 to raptuous success, Bell has taught at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and received the Order of Australia and an Order of the British Empire for his contributions to theatre.
Spending his teen years in Maitland, NSW, he said the occasional travelling pantomime shows in his hometown showed the need for a vibrant theatre offering in regional areas.
“So we were very thrilled when anything came through, and that’s why I realised how important it was to country people to have that opportunity … I always wanted to pay back that debt, I suppose,” Bell said.
“It can bring the community together, give them a common cause and make them proud of something.
“I also think any story that happens to be about a local community, and getting people to tell their own stories and make those into a play or musical of some sort, really gives expression to a lot of feelings that are just lying latent and not really expressed.”
The production follows the romance which blossoms between Cio-Cio-San (Sharon Zhai) and Pinkerton (Matthew Reardon), complicated by a marriage of convenience in early 20th century Japan.
Bell said it was both the musical genius of Madame Butterfly and the recurring relevance of the “ongoing mistreatment of people under an occupying force” that kept it popular with audiences.
“It’s mainly the music, it has the most beautiful and memorable music, and the story is very poignant,” he said. “It touches peoples hearts, I think, because they know the kind of thing that happens in the opera has been going on for centuries.”
“Whenever there is an invading army, women are treated in a certain way and then dumped by the men who have taken them on.”
Madame Butterfly will be onstage at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts on July 26.
Bookings at hermaj.com or call 5333 5888.
NB: Please note an original version of this story listed the performance date as July 29. The correct date is July 26