The Lisbon Traviata

Synopsis

The first act is set in the fussily ornate apartment of Mendy, a ferociously dedicated opera buff who begs and cajoles his friend Stephen to let him borrow his copy of the pirated Maria Callas recording of La Traviata made during a performance in Lisbon, Portugal. Stephen, a blocked playwright whose detailed knowledge of opera exceeds even Mendy's, delights in showing off his expertise while dodging his friend's entreaties, but beneath their often hilarious banter it is evident that both men are deeply unhappy--Mendy because of his loneliness, and Stephen because he is aware that his long-time partner (whom he loves deeply) is having an affair with someone else. Both it seems, are trapped within opera, with its grand but contrived passions becoming a neurotic substitute for real life. But in the second act, which takes place in Stephen's starkly modern apartment, reality arrives with stunning force as Stephen confronts his lover, Mike, and tries to salvage their relationship. Sensing his failure, Stephen turns on Mike and his new lover, Paul, driving the latter away and taunting Mike so venomously that all hope of a reconciliation is soon shattered. The tragic consequences of his behaviour are guaranteed to haunt Stephen for the rest of his life.

Our Review:

18 November 2003

Sunday, 27 October 1989, 7.30pm. Promenade Theatre, New York. Seat C16, $30. That's when the ticket stub in my playbill (as they call programmes over there) for the original off-Broadway production of The Lisbon Traviata tells me I first saw this play (and how much I paid), and also, as it happens, first encountered the brilliant stage and screen comedy actor Nathan Lane, who made his name with his performance in it as an opera-crazy gay man, Mendy.

I only mention this because the play is so concerned with specifics about particular performances - and the obsessive, trainspotter-ish detailing, by Mendy and his best friend Stephen, of Maria Callas performances that they have either seen themselves or have collected pirated recordings of.

Much to Mendy's chagrin and envy, Stephen has managed to get his hands on a recording of one of only two performances that Callas gave of La Traviata in Lisbon on 27 and 30 March 1958. (Needless to say, they've bo...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.211.99.22) - 20 December 2003:

Oh for 30 minutes less. A fascinating idea & a well written play, given a miraculous staging at the tiny Kings Head, with great performances by all.....but the first half outstays it's welcome and becomes an exercise in how easy it is to overdose on camp. Fortunately, the second half changes colour, is much less OTT and redeems the evening. Without the 30 mins 4, with the 30 mins 3....

Read more and add your own review