Popera: Sex, Death & Politics (The Motley Bauhaus) – music theatre review

The concept is a game show-based pop quiz with a musical focus, overlaid with a manufactured relationship breakdown by the host, Uma Dobie. Of the former, think Britney and Bizet, Madonna and Mozart, Beyonce and Bellini. Of the latter, when calling for her assistant, being her lover, Trevor, he appears on video, brutally dumping her, after which Uma doesn’t hold back with the vitriol.

In fact, the show also begins with a video introduction. Then, Uma takes to stage in a red flouncy number with shimmering silver boots and killer heels. She looks every bit the diva, asking diva-like questions, but not before opening her lungs to showcase an incredible operatic voice (her high notes could break glass).

A dictionary definition of popera is music drawing on opera or classical music and aiming for popular appeal. With the aid of Deidre on keys and, later, triangle, Uma’s quiz is broken into three rounds, with a couple of bonus rounds added. In turn, they focus on sex, politics and death, and cross the divide between pop music and opera.

Out the gate, round one is, indeed, sexually charged (I dare say it would make the Pope blush). Questions appear on video, with Uma calling on the audience to answer them and collect points that they subsequently, supposedly self-tabulate. Round two helps highlight the imbalance between male and female roles in the most performed operas. Yes, this show has a feminist bent.

The “death” round starts with a timely aside concerning radio host Marty Sheargold’s intemperate and disparaging remarks about women’s sport ending his career. Thereafter, three contestants (drawn from patrons) compete to answer some operatic questions. A noteworthy fact that Uma drops is how much more connected women are to their partners after seeing (and, I suspect, being moved by) opera.

Uma Dobie is an unashamed enthusiast, who throws herself into the role of quiz master and sleighted woman, the latter with decided melodrama. As mentioned, those golden pipes of hers, which get quite a workout, including with up tempo original numbers, are quite something to behold. It is a fun and fanciful show, cheeky and cheery, that the afternoon I saw it had the odd technical issue.

Audience participation can be tricky, with few keen to “expose” themselves, but there were a few hardy souls, a couple of whom showed they were quite knowledgeable. Uma, along with writer and director Bronny Lane, have a shared musical pedigree, as alumni of the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne. They have taken the adage “music can move mountains” and run with it.

Popera: Sex, Death & Politics is on weekends at 4pm at The Motley Bauhaus in Carlton, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, until 20th April, 2025.

Alex First

Other reviews you might enjoy:

• Hard Quiz Live (Melbourne Town Hall) – theatre review
• Broadway Diva (The Butterfly Club) – music review
• Idomeneo (Victorian Opera and Opera Australia) – opera review