At Atheneaum Theatre II, Jan to Feb 1994
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
This review was published in Melbourne Times after Jan 29, 1994.
Sexual fantasy is the stuff of Hollywood movies and of a new play by Patricia Cornelius. Opa: A Sexual Odyssey, steals the ancient Greek myth of Penelope awaiting the return from war of her warrior husband Odysseus (Ulysses). She waits, chaste and faithful, dodging the potential lovers for twenty years. Unbelievable!
Opa is written and directed by Cornelius with music by Irene Vela. It is an intensely female show performed by five actor-singers and four musicians with an all-female crew. It contains some revealing and threatening material based on interviews with women about their sexual fantasies - of which there are evidently myriad.
The performance is relentlessly entertaining and sexy. These women of Italian, Greek, Islander and Anglo heritage are warm, honest, passionate and exposed emotionally and sexually. It is both titillating and a challenge to watch.
The music is a highlight. Sons from many cultures pepper the show and are sung with relish and skill. The opening number, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, with leads vocal by Anna Butera as Penelope was a golden moment as was the final farewell to Odysseus, Je Ne Regrette Rien.
In spite of the sheer delight and raunchiness of this show, there are some problems. Its structure is often loose and direction thin. There are moments of confusion about the narrative and characters. The set of scaffold and plastic is clumsy and awkward for the actors who often look unsafe.
But this is a vibrant night in the theatre. Be prepared to have your secrets shouted to the skies.
KATE HERBERT 29. 1. 94 260 w
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