James Inverne’s new play, That Bastard Puccini, opened last night at the Park Theatre, in north London. It relates the rivalry between Giacomo Puccini and Ruggero Leoncavallo as they raced to be first to complete La Boheme.
Puccini got there first, to bad reviews. Leoncavallo’s opera got booked by Vienna, over Gustav Mahler’s strenuous objections.
We all know which version won out in the long run, but that’s not the point.
Inverne, former editor of Gramophone magazine, recounts the battle with perceptive historical accuracy and no little wit. Puccini is presented as an outrigh sh*t and Leoncavalle as a one-hit wonder.
Beneath these tensions, however, is a rewarding psychological drama of interdependancy between one composer who is a genius and all of his also-rans. Puccini cannot know he is great until he sees others fail. Leoncvallo might well have given up trying if he hadn’t had Puccini at his shoulder, stealing his best ideas and paying him backhanded compliments. Leoncavallo is touchingly grateful for his attention.
Sebastian Torka and Alasdair Buchan are gripping and convincing as the two protagonists. Lisa-Anne Wood, as the suffering Mrs Leoncavallo, delivers some scintillating arias, right on pitch.
Against heavy odds, this three-hander works really well. It’s a tale of the best v the rest.
But isn’t that what life’s about?
Runs at Park Theatre until August 9. Go for it. Book here.
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