Anna Nicole the Opera?

I remember a few years ago seeing a sketch by Jane Turner and Gina Riley (of Kath and Kim fame) of an interpretive dance musical of the Lindy and Azaria Chamberlain story and thinking it was hilarious because it was obviously going too far. Then I found out that in 2002 the Sydney Opera House premiered the opera "Lindy" composed by Moya Henderson, about this case. For real. Following that there seem to have been a successive flow of musicals and operas about sports stars (Shane Warne The Musical), politicians (Keating!) and television hosts (Jerry Springer the Opera). I haven't actually seen any of these so can't judge the quality and do admit that I think they would actually be hilarious.

But now the Royal Opera is premiering an opera about the life of Anna Nicole Smith (see here). I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. For the most part I can't help thinking 'is it really necessary?' Surely there are people who have achieved more and warrant being the subject of an opera more than Anna Nicole Smith. And what will this opera entail? A chorus line of playboy bunnies and an incomprehensible lead with a quivering soprano bosom... who sings about what exactly? What about her octogenarian ex-husband? And children (both living and dead)? Am I old fashioned if I consider Puccini, Verdi and Mozart real opera and can't find a niche for Anna Nicole? Or is the over-theatric nature of opera the perfect platform for the exploitation of poor old Anna? I just don't know!!

I think I will give this one a miss either way. I think it might just be too soon.

Image from here