A music critic as well as a playwright, James Inverne’s knowledge benefits his new play. The story of ‘the battle of the Bohèmes’ – rival operas by Giacomo Puccini and Ruggerio Leoncavallo – that captivated Italy in 1893 is full of facts and insight into the music of the time. Inverne packs the story with juicy anecdotes, making it entertaining throughout.
The clever move theatrically is to have the three main characters (Leoncavallo is joined by his wife Berthe) all fully aware they are on stage and telling the story. The idea is tackled well by director Daniel Slater, adding humour and enabling the cast to shine. As Berthe accuses Puccini of “taking advantage of the mise-en-scène” it’s clear what a great device this is to show how close the rivals were.
Puccini takes the lead in narration. He’s the one saying which scenes they should show the audience, morphing into different characters (his Mahler is a hoot) if needed. In the role, Alasdair Buchan has the maestro’s confidence down pat, alongside an unattractive wish for the next “rush” that propels the show. Sebastien Torkia is just as strong as Leoncavallo, with comic skills bringing out the character’s dramatic side – he could be in an opera let alone write one.
In a nice touch, Inverne allows Lisa-Anne Wood to steal the show. She also appears as Puccini’s long-suffering wife, and other characters if corralled – but always with an eye on her primary role as Berthe, creating a fine layered effect. And to top it all, she sings!
That Bastard Puccini! gets more emotional as we come to focus on the price paid in pursuit of fame and art. A composer’s lot is not a happy one. A melancholy conclusion could be pacier, but Inverne succeeds in making us care about all his characters. It’s all enjoyable and well done, but you might want it to grow a little more. Some plays about artists manage to appeal to the broadest of audiences. (Amadeus, a play ‘about’ much more than Mozart, is the obvious example.) Creativity may be the theme here, but this story still feels like a footnote in history. Inverne gives his characters some lovely passages about music and his own passion for opera is clear, but sadly it is not quite contagious.
Until 9 August 2025
Photos by David Monteith-Hodge
