‘That’s the way to do it!’ – Mr Punch at the Opera
La Serva Padrona: delivering the Punch line
Opera for children? Oh yes there is!
This summer’s Grimeborn festival at the Arcola theatre features a new production called Mr Punch at the Opera, designed for children aged four and above.
The show is based loosely on Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona, a comic Renaissance opera, now transformed into a 40-minute pantomime and puppetry performance with modern themes.
The Citizen caught up with director Becca Marriott to find out more about Mr Punch.
HC: What made you choose ‘La Serva Padrona’?
BM: So… It might be hard to believe, but in the 17th century, in the intervals of the big, long operas there used to be – wait for it – other operas. These were known as “intermezzi” and La Serva Padrona is the most famous of all the intermezzi operas that remain today. It tells the story of clever maid who defies her stupid boss and dupes him into marrying her. Thus, she becomes the mistress of the house. It’s all light-hearted though, and very clear from the start that these two really do love one another beneath it all.
The opera is super short, beautifully funny and has all the big bold stereotype characters of pantomime. Serpina and Uberto (servant and boss) are both stock characters from the old theatre tradition of Commedia dell’Arte, which is also the inspiration for Punch & Judy! Bringing the two theatre forms together just made sense.
HC: How did you go about adapting a Renaissance opera for 21st century children? Were there any particular challenges associated with this?
BM: The biggest two changes we have made are:
1 – the sung recitative (the singy-speechy bit where opera characters sing like they’re talking) is replaced with pantomime style snappy spoken English dialogue
2 – we have replaced the silent mime character in the original opera (who can seem a bit daft and confusing) with ALL the characters from Punch & Judy.
The most challenging aspect of presenting this opera in 2024 is that the story line is well…mmm…not very pro-woman. The opera was written at a time in history when a woman’s only chance to climb society’s ladder was to get herself married to a rich man.
We didn’t want to change the show’s central plot as it is super tight and relatable. BUT we are asking the audience to interrogate it (and a chunk of the parental interaction is all about highlighting the injustices of Serpina’s lot!).
We’ve also been super clear in presenting this story as historical and encouraging the audience to look at how much freer life is for women today but also question what things haven’t changed as much as they could have.
HC: If it is not a secret, in what sense is the show ‘interactive’?
BM: This show is presented like a pantomime and a Punch & Judy show rolled into one. Expect all the traditional calls-and-responses of the British seaside AND a few more special join in moments for the little ones and their adults – DON’T FEAR, YOU DON’T HAVE TO SING ALONG (though we might give you the option!).
Mr Punch at the Opera
21-24 August 2024
Arcola Theatre
24 Ashwin Street
London
E8 3DL