Viva la mamma! or Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali

Viva la mamma! (Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali) Music by G. Donizetti Libretto by Domenico Gilardoni Pacific Opera Project Highland Park Ebell Club -- Los Angeles, CA November 2016 Sung in Italian with English Supertitles Directed and Designed by Josh Shaw Conducted by Stephen Karr Costumes by Maggie Green Katherine Giaquinto, Daria Garbinati Carl King, Procolo Amy Lawrence, Luiga Castragati Kyle Patterson, The Tenor E. Scott Levin, Biscroma Strappaviscere Ryan Thorn, Mamma Agatha Phil Meyer, The Impresario Matt Welch, Cesare Salzapargilia Eleene Hsu Wendtlandt, Pippetto Premiere: Teatro Nuovo, Naples November 21, 1827 Setting: A regional opera company in the early 1980s A regional (and mediocre) operatic troupe is rehearsing a new work -- Romulus and Ersilia—and faces numerous obstacles. The prima donna acts every bit the diva, refusing to rehearse. The German tenor cannot master either the lyrics or melodies. In the midst of much quarrelling, various singers threaten to walk out. The situation turns more dire with the arrival of Mamma Agatha (a baritone role), the mother of the seconda donna. She insists on a solo for her daughter and even issues detailed demands on the musical arrangement of the aria. When the German tenor refuses to go on, he is replaced by the prima donna's husband. The show eventually collapses, and rather than pay back all the investors (whose money has already been spent), the company flees the town under cover of night.