Critically acclaimed cabaret star, Madame Chandelier returns to the Fringe this year with her second kids’ show, Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera, a family-friendly comedy opera based on Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Canadian soprano Delea Shand is the operatic force behind the joyfully ridiculous Madame Chandelier, who has been tearing down boundaries and bringing opera to new audiences for almost ten years.
!When Madame Chandelier’s daughter gets sucked into her video game and is kidnapped by the evil Queen of the Night, there’s only one thing to do – gather opera’s fiercest characters for an epic battle. Will Carmen, Tosca, and Madame Butterfly help defeat the ultimate boss, or will all arias lead to death?”
Where: The Green at Pleasance Courtyard
When: 5-16 Aug
Ticket link: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/madame-chandelier-s-grand-theft-opera
What can you tell us about your show? What is it about and where did the idea come from?
Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera re-imagines elements of Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute as a video game. It’s an operatic mega-mix with songs from opera’s most iconic divas like Carmen, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Queen of the Night, and obviously there’s a Nessun Dorma bonus round at the end.
My first idea was to write a show called “Choose Your Own Opera Adventure”. Everyone who grew up in the 90’s read those books, so I thought it had good nostalgia factor and seemed like a fun structure. The first problem I ran into was realizing that the Choose Your Own Adventure franchise owns the rights to the phrase and they are not afraid to send a cease and desist if you try and use it. So that was out.
As I worked on the show with my director, P Burton-Morgan, they suggested that a video game show could have a similar quest structure we could play with. And thus…. Grand Theft Opera was born.
How would you sell it to audiences in one paragraph?
Madame Chandelier’s Grand Theft Opera is about a mother whose teenage daughter gets sucked into her video game and needs to be rescued. At a time when we are all glued to our individual screens, I wanted to write a family show that brings people together, that everyone could enjoy. It’s like Mozart meets Mario Kart meets Monty Python, and then they need all the best opera divas to help save the day. It has opera, jokes, games, snazzy costumes, audience participation, and an excessive amount of rogue projectiles.
Do you enjoy participating in the Fringe? And do you have any moments you particularly remember?
I love the Fringe! Where else can you spend an entire month performing your show, meeting world class artists, and watching incredible art? One of my favourite memories was my first Fringe when my kids were 5 and 7. They came up for the last few days and my son hilariously stood in Bristo Square, desperately trying to hand out flyers with both hands and shouting,“OP-WA COMEDY! OP-WA COMEDY!”
What are you looking forward to the most in Edinburgh?
I love the community of artists at the Fringe. There are so many creative people working at different stages of their careers, all crammed into a two-mile radius, which is kind of equalising in a way. You can see some mega famous people just walking around or standing in line waiting to buy a fried chicken burger. Some artists I’m really excited about are Joz Norris, Garry Starr, and Sarah-Louise Young.
I’m also delighted about the growth of two alternative comedy hubs, Shedinburgh and Hoots. I wish I could see literally everything they are putting on!
What’s next for the show?
The beauty of the Fringe is that so many reviewers, promoters, bookers and industry people are hunting for the next exciting thing. It’s basically a huge trade show and with any luck, some of those people might stumble across my show and like what they see! I would love to spend the next two years taking this show around the country, with a real interest in the rural touring schemes that would allow me to reach those audiences who haven’t accessed opera before.
I am always trying to make opera fun and accessible. It’s an art form that some people find impenetrable because it seems expensive, elite, or unrelatable, but opera is for everyone and I really hope people leave the show thinking they might give opera a try!