The KL City Opera (KLCO) is setting the stage for a fresh and innovative adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, transporting the beloved opera from its usual 19th-century Parisian setting to a nostalgic backdrop of 1960s Malaya. This is KLCO’s third production of La Bohème, after 2012 and 2016. In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death, this year’s production – playing at KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 4-6 – is set against the vibrant backdrop of the cultural renaissance of Tan Sri P.
Ramlee and the Shaw Brothers’ film offerings, promising a unique fusion of classic opera and nostalgic cinematic flair. Stage director Amelia Tan shares how she enjoys the humour and charm found in P. Ramlee films and how this has been a joy to translate onto the stage.
“With this opera, I hope to present a more relaxed and relatable approach, closer to our culture,” says Amelia. The biggest challenge, she adds, has been getting the actors, who are more used to performing Western operas, to embrace a more grounded style, capturing the laid-back, easygoing atmosphere of Malaya in the 1960s. “Another major challenge was ensuring that the overall stage design, including costumes, sets and visual elements, effectively created the feeling of that era.
The costumes and props help the actors immerse themselves more quickly, and hopefully, they will also allow the audience to quickly engage and enjoy the local version,” says th.