La Traviata

Becca Marriott, Helena Jackson

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781786826671
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Opera Music

The acclaimed company behind the Olivier Award nominated ('Best New Opera, 2018') production of La bohème present a radical reimagining of Verdi's incendiary tale of sex, class and power, La Traviata. England, 2018. Violetta earns her crust dancing for the rich and powerful at an exclusive gentleman's club until a chance meeting with naive and idealistic Elijah changes everything. The powerful collide with the powerless, with earth shattering consequences for all involved. Combining Verdi's breathtaking music with a new English version from Becca Marriott and Helena Jackson, this is La Traviata exposed, uncovered and redefined for the twenty first century.

Act 1

Flora’s.

SINCLAIR is drunk and embarrassing.

ELIJAH is drunk and embarrassed.

ELIJAH: Dad let’s go please, before someone sees you. Are you list’ning?

SINCLAIR: This place is exclusive. Am I right? (To an audience member.) How’s your wife Rev’rend Cooke?

VIOLETTA: (Swanning over.) Cheer up, stop frowning.

The night’s full of magic. Chin up, darling, and don’t look so sad. Have a drink and let go of your tension.

FLORA AND SINCLAIR: Down in one! You won’t taste it.

VIOLETTA: (To ELIJAH, flirting as part of her job.) You’re lovely. Such an innocent boy! I am sure you are a real hit with all the girls.

SINCLAIR: (Teasing to ELIJAH.) Yes, it’s clear you will break some poor heart. (Teasing to VIOLETTA.) Yes, it’s clear he will break some poor heart.

FLORA: (Teasing to VIOLETTA.) Yes, it’s clear he will break some poor heart. (Teasing to ELIJAH.) Yes, it’s clear you will break some poor heart.

FLORA: (Half joking with VIOLETTA.) Poor Elijah Sinclair, like his father, he loves with his (Indicating her crotch.) eyes not his senses. See him staring? Poor lamb, he adores you.

VIOLETTA: Are you joking? I would eat him up for breakfast.

SINCLAIR: (Butting in and indicating his son.) My Elijah…

ELIJAH: Don’t embarrass me!

SINCLAIR: He’s nervous. (Aside but too loudly.) I’m not sure if he’s been with a woman.

VIOLETTA: (Preparing to dance for ELIJAH.) Are you ready?

Don’t move. Let me show you all you’ve been missing, a world full of love.

SINCLAIR AND FLORA: (Forcing ELIJAH to drink.) Don’t be shy, have a drink and enjoy yourself. You’ll soon feel a world full of love.

VIOLETTA dances for an increasingly uncomfortable ELIJAH.

FLORA: (To VIOLETTA to one side.) Poor Elijah’s besotted.

VIOLETTA: He’s shell shocked!

FLORA: Just remember his father’s a powerful man who doesn’t want trouble.

VIOLETTA: What nonsense. Clearly the boy is drunk…

FLORA: Just be careful.

VIOLETTA returns to ELIJAH, as SINCLAIR stumbles at FLORA at the bar.

ELIJAH: Have I met you? Not just now, but before that… in my dreams.

VIOLETTA: (Cackling.) Don’t be daft, I’m no dream girl.

ELIJAH returns morosely to his drink.

VIOLETTA: I’ve upset you. I’m sorry. Forgive me.

SINCLAIR pulls away from FLORA to the centre.

SINCLAIR: (Shouting to the room.) To my son, now a Master of Music.

ELIJAH: Dad, please don’t make a scene here. Please stop now!

FLORA swoops in on ELIJAH and VIOLETTA.

FLORA: Now, Elijah do tell us all about you.

SINCLAIR drunkenly joins them.

SINCLAIR: He’s a budding composer.

FLORA: He is? Good for him. What a talented son!

ELIJAH: (To VIOLETTA, indicating his father.) Please ignore him. He’s bad when he’s drinking.

SINCLAIR: (Standing again.) Writing great works like Puccini or Mozart!

VIOLETTA: We should drink to the maestro.

ELIJAH: (Wistful.) To a world that is bigger than music…

FLORA: The maestro!

SINCLAIR: The maestro!

VIOLETTA: The maestro!

FLORA, SINCLAIR AND VIOLETTA: A toast!

FLORA: The composer must give us a tune, raise his glass up and sing us a song!

ELIJAH: I’m no good at singing.

SINCLAIR: You’re a Master of Music!

ELIJAH: (To VIOLETTA.) Would you like it?

VIOLETTA: (Embarrassed by the awkward silence.) Yes.

ELIJAH: Yes? Here’s to you.

SINCLAIR: Karaoke!

ELIJAH goes to his satchel and pulls out a few s...