Amadigi di Gaula review – inflatables and appoggiaturas as Handel takes a trip to Love Island

By Alexandra Coghlan · The Guardian Culture

Buxton Opera House Olivia Fuchs’ delirious spin on the baroque opera comes with TV trickery, more hearts than a cardiologist convention and absolutely gorgeous singing It’s day seven on “Melissa’s Island”. Melissa is grafting hottie Amadigi but he keeps mugging her off . Amadigi’s head’s been turned by fit bird Oriana, but snakey Dardano is trying to crack on with her too and she’s got the ick . It’s giving toxic relationship energy. The absurdity of Handel’s magic operas can be a headache for directors. But not for Olivia Fuchs, whose Amadigi for Buxton festival takes the composer’s paper-thin four-hander and swaps magic for TV trickery, sorceresses for all-powerful producers, and a set of foolish lovers for the cast of a Love Island-style reality show . Add an inflatable flamingo, a barrage of cameras and more hearts than a cardiologist convention, and you’ve got a staging that keeps you so busy smiling that you barely notice that you’ve, well, caught feelings. Continue reading...