'Trouble in tahiti' by leonard bernstein
and
'Arlecchino' (harlequin) by Ferruccio busoni
two Fabulous one-Act operas with orchestra in one show!
overview:
Audiences at six performances braced themselves for laughs, lies, and suburban secrets in this lively double bill of one-act operas at the Eternity theatre Darlinghurst between 28 November and 7 December 2025:
Trouble in Tahiti—exposed 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—marked 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!
Cast - Trouble in Tahiti
Peter Coleman-Wright AO and Cheryl Barker AO starred as Sam and Dinah, the couple at the heart of Trouble in Tahiti. These amazing singers, who have graced stages across Australia, the UK, and Europe, brought their brilliance to gorgeous, intimate Eternity Theatre. Weaving through the drama was 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.
Cast - 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. As his deceived wife Brea Holland brought a bold, assertive physicality to the role of Colombina—something our audiences appreciated.
Ed Suttle, Damien Hall, and Jeffrey Lock brought to life a trio of larger-than-life characters. Suttle played a Dante-obsessed tailor; Hall was a swaggering Italian cavalier; and Lock took on the role of a pompous, opinionated Abbate. Matthew Avery played Dottor Bombasto—the loud, self-important “expert”, who was 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.
Harlequin, Arlecchino.
Abbate, Arlecchino.
Ray Kerwin Baya
Donkey, Arlecchino.
Stage Director
Christine's Mentor
Costume Designer
Set Designer
Zahra Babaye
Music Director
Movement Director
Props Manager
Photography
Orchestra Manager
Production Manager
Lighting Designer
Michael schell
Stage Manager
Lisa Brandenburg
Repetiteur/Pianist
Creative Director
Stage Manager
Hannah Schibeci
Set Construction
SUE smith
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. It is a captivating portrait of post-war disillusionment from one of America's greatest musical minds.
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