'Trouble in tahiti' by leonard bernstein
and
'Arlecchino' (harlequin) by Ferruccio busoni
two Fabulous one-Act operas with orchestra in one show!
Early Bird tickets are now on sale for just $30–$60 until September 30th.
Eternity Playhouse — 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst
Performance Dates:
Fridays: 28 Nov & 5 Dec – 7:00 PM
Saturdays: 29 Nov & 6 Dec – 3:00 PM
Sundays: 30 Nov & 7 Dec – 3:00 PM.
overview:
Get ready for a night of laughs, lies, and suburban secrets in this lively double bill of one-act operas:
Trouble in Tahiti—exposes the cracks in 1950's suburbia. Behind the perfect marriage, Sam and Dinah are drifting apart—lost in silence and longing. An early Bernstein work, based on his parents, Bernstein uses superb vocals, lush tunes and a cheeky chorus to conjure up a day in the lives of this seemingly "perfect couple".
Arlecchino—marks a complete change of setting and pace. Busoni revives the colourful world of commedia dell’arte, while cleverly satirising opera’s grand conventions. It is a sharp, slapstick comedy where the clever Harlequin lies, cheats, and charms his way through chaos in 18th-century Italy. Think disguises, mistaken identities, and nonstop mischief!
Trouble in Tahiti
Peter Coleman-Wright AO and Cheryl Barker AO star as Sam and Dinah, the couple at the heart of Trouble in Tahiti. These amazing singers have graced stages across Australia, the UK, and Europe, and now bring their brilliance to Darlinghurst. Weaving through the drama is a toe-tapping, radio-commercial-style vocal trio played by Endangered Production regulars Lesley Braithwaite, Damien Hall and Ed Suttle, offering a satirical, chorus commentary on the illusion of the American dream.
Read our exclusive interview with Cheryl here and Peter here.
Arlecchino (Harlequin)
Busoni gives traditional opera a modern twist, by making the charming trickster lead, Arlecchino, a non-singing role—handled with charisma and precision by Andy Leonard. Brea Holland brings a bold, assertive physicality to the role of his wife, Colombina—something our audiences will appreciate.
Ed Suttle, Damien Hall, and Jeffrey Lock bring to life a trio of larger-than-life characters. Suttle plays a Dante-obsessed tailor; Hall is a swaggering Italian cavalier; and Lock takes on the role of a pompous, opinionated Abbate. Matthew Avery plays Dottor Bombasto—the loud, self-important “expert”, who is hilariously off the mark.
Sam, Trouble in Tahiti.
Trio, Trouble in Tahiti. Matteo, Arlecchino.
Dottor Bombasto, Arlecchino.
Dinah, Trouble in Tahiti.
Trio, Trouble in Tahiti. Leandro, Arlecchino.
Tenielle Thompson
Annunziata, Arlecchino.
Andy Leonard
Harlequin, Arlecchino.
Abbate, Arlecchino.
Ray Kerwin Baya
Donkey, Arlecchino.
Music Director
Movement Director
Production Assistant
Orchestra Manager
Production Manager
Beate Zanner
Lighting Designer
Michael schell
Photography
Ferruccio Busoni’s Arlecchino (Harlequin) – A Comic Opera of Deception and Delight
Step into 18th-century Bergamo for a whirlwind of wit, disguise, and farcical drama in Arlecchino, Ferruccio Busoni’s brilliant one-act opera inspired by the vibrant world of commedia dell’arte. Best known for his fiendishly difficult piano music, Busoni revives the classic Italian theatre tradition with a modern twist—poking fun at opera’s grand conventions while crafting a fast-paced comedy full of mischief and mayhem.
The titular Harlequin, ever the charming trickster, juggles love affairs, false alarms, and outrageous lies to cover his tracks—convincing a jealous husband the town is under siege, disguising himself as a recruiting officer, and narrowly escaping the consequences of his own antics. All the while, mistaken identities and sudden turns of fortune keep the action—and the audience—on their toes.
Part satire, part slapstick, all style—Arlecchino is a sparkling operatic gem that turns tradition on its head and proves that even in chaos, comedy reigns.
Leonard Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti” – A Sharp, Stylish Snapshot of Suburban Strife
Step into the seemingly perfect world of Sam and Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti, Leonard Bernstein’s bold one-act opera from 1952. Written during his honeymoon and inspired by his own parents, this rare gem is one of only two works for which Bernstein penned both the music and the lyrics.
Set over the course of a single day, the opera peels back the glossy veneer of 1950's suburban life to reveal a marriage strained by loneliness, miscommunication, and unmet longing. Amid therapists, cocktails, and the comforts of modern living, Sam and Dinah struggle to connect in a world that prizes appearances over authenticity.
Weaving through the drama is a jazzy vocal trio—Bernstein’s take on a “Greek chorus born of the radio commercial”—offering a satirical, toe-tapping commentary on the illusion of the American dream.
Witty, poignant, and musically rich, Trouble in Tahiti is a timeless exploration of love lost in the land of plenty. Don’t miss this captivating portrait of post-war disillusionment from one of America's greatest musical minds.