Lloyd Evans Lloyd Evans

First honk, then applaud

Turandot <br /> <em>Hampstead Theatre</em> Do You Know Where Your Daughter Is? <br /> <em>Hackney Empire</em> Eurobeat <br /> <em>Novello</em> <br type="_moz" />

issue 20 September 2008

Turandot
Hampstead Theatre

Do You Know Where Your Daughter Is?
Hackney Empire

Eurobeat
Novello

Why the long wait? Brecht completed his last play, Turandot, in 1953 but only now does it receive its British premiere. This spirited, finely acted production provides the answer. The script is all wonky. Taken from the commedia dell’arte fable that inspired Puccini’s opera, this is a laborious political allegory about an impotent Chinese emperor, his spoiled eldest daughter and a rambling public conference that pitches two symbolic groups against one another, ‘the clothesmakers’, (standing for the Social Democrats), and ‘the clothesless’ (the Communists). The issues Brecht is examining are lost in the past and located two continents away. And his salty wit is all too rarely on show.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in