Maid Made Boss (La serva padrona)

Short and sweet, easy to understand, funny, with a woman who thrives in a battle of affection with her boss.

It’s not often you can say that about an opera, but that is exactly what Maid Made Boss, sung in Italian with English sub-titles, delivered for Pinchgut in its latest production.

The miniature opera company chose a piece first performed in Naples in 1733 for two performances and recorded it for good measure for a future broadcast by ABC Classic FM.

A rich baroque score with flamboyant flourishes on the harpsichord was accompanied with panache by eight string guitar and mandolin.

The orchestra was on stage, surrounded by a sky-blue backdrop, with the action playing out in front by three performers who jumped in and out of wobbly spotlights.

The freshness and realism of the opera made it a sensation when it was revived by the Paris Opera during the 1750’s. In those days it was featured between the acts of a grand opera (those were the good old days when audiences spent half a day in their seats).

Serpina (Celeste Lazarenko) wears the boots in the household even though she is the employed maid. “You must keep quiet and follow orders,”  Serpina tells her boss Uberto (Morgan Pearse).

Tired of this defiance, Uberto declares that he will restore order by finding a wife. “Aren’t I beautiful and clever,” she replies whilst showing some ankle.

You think of me as my poor Serpina, she says whilst giving him a scalp massage.

To win his heart she hatches a plot – make him jealous by asking a friend to pose as Captain Tempest (Gareth Davies), her fiancé.

The opera has some bright music, with Pearse shining in an aria that demonstrated his angst.

Pinchgut performs simple accessible operas. Their next is the original Dublin version of The Messiah – which is worth looking out for.

David Spicer

Photographer: Anna Kucera