EntertainmentOpera and BalletTheatre

Billy Budd at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh Review

billybuddBilly Budd
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

1 & 3 December 2016

www.edtheatres.com

Reviewed by Juliana Headley

Thursday night’s opera “Billy Budd” was performed by Opera North and is based on the novel “Billy Budd, Sailor”, written by an American writer Herman Melville. The peculiarity of the novel was that Mr Melville’s work was interrupted by his death in 1891 and the novel was lying unfinished until it was discovered nearly 30 years later by a professor at Columbian University Raymond Weaver, who studied the biography of Mr Melville. Mr Weaver edited and finished the novel and once it got published, it was acclaimed by critics as a masterpiece both in Britain and the USA. “Billy Budd” was adapted to an opera in 1951.

The story started with an elderly captain Edmund Fairfax Vere reflecting on the events from a long time ago, when he was a captain aboard a ship called Indomitable. A decision that he had made and how it had been haunting him ever since.

Then were teleported into 1797 on board of Indomitable to find out what actually happened. The decorations were absolutely superb! The stage was split into 2 levels, making it so believable that all the actions took place on a ship! Curved decks created an illusion of movement, being at sea! The costumes were amazing too! Such attention to detail from shoes to every button on the naval uniform!

It was a story of a young aspiring sailor Billy Budd, adored by both fellow sailors and the seniors on the ship. He wanted to have a career in the Navy, but through jealousy and unfortunate circumstances, an accident happened and Billy was accused of a murder! Captain Vere was faced with dilemma whether to obey the laws of the sea or go against them and save Billy from hanging. A very deep and thought provoking piece with appropriate music to keep the intensity going!

A wonderful performance by all, actors, orchestra, support acts! Well worth seeing!

Rating: 4.5/5

Tickets cost from £17.50 to £67.50 (booking fees may apply).

Billy Budd is at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh until 3 December 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0131 529 6000.

Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9FT | 0131 529 6000

4 half Star

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