Threepenny Opera Crims Move from Melbourne to Sydney.

When the Malthouse Theatre and Victorian State Opera staged The Threepenny Opera, the Director Michael Kantor was able to update the setting by dipping into Melbourne’s rich tapestry of crookedness. He’s found just as much seediness in Sydney to update the classic by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill once more. David Spicer reports.

Michael Kantor is passionate about Bertolt Brecht, describing him as the consummate political theatre satirist of our time.

“He combines a deep insight into the human character and the nature of political frame. While he was doing it against capitalism in the early 20th century, it is just as powerful an attack on consumerism today.”

The Threepenny Opera was written in 1928, based on the The Beggar’s Opera, with the score influenced by jazz music. It’s set in the ‘underbelly’ of London.

The scene includes “crooked politicians in bed with illegal brothel owners, cops on the take, crims who have the key to the city, leaving very little room for good people.”

The production is being updated in the move from The Malthouse Theatre to The Sydney Theatre Company. Local references in both seasons are sprinkled through the production.

“Melbourne revels in its criminal history on every street corner. It has shifted with wonderful ease to Sydney. ”

Sydney – Melbourne rivalry has a new front – who has the best crooks?

Just as Channel Nine has  got plenty of mileage out of the streets and surrounds of Kings Cross, so hahttp://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/2011/threepenny-operas this production.

In this case the criminals of Darlinghurst will be wearing period bowler hats.

While the production may look like Sydney, Michael  Kantor told me that he is itching to drop in contemporary political observations as is the Brecht tradition.

“It has been so fascinating to watch the back streets of London  (in turmoil), the seething masses of haves and have nots as we watch London burn. We should not fool ourselves that we are not that far away.”

‘’We’ve bred a generation to believe that without a mobile, or plasma screen, you are not a full person. That is still a dangerous environment whether it backstreets of London or Sydney. ”

His cast oozes street cred.

Eddie Perfect plays Mac the knife.  “He is the most dastardly villain. Relishing his own blood lust and evil.”

Paul Capsis plays Jennie the brothel owner. “He has an extraordinary balance of male and female. You are never sure what he is.”

While the music, under the direction of the baton of the Victorian State Opera’s delightful Richard Gill, is faithful to the original score by Kurt Weill resisting the temptation to make it sound  like a rock opera.

Michael  Kantor promises a night of toe tapping songs, and a wry smile.

The Threepenny Opera plays from September 3 to 24 at The Sydney Theatre.

Images: Eddie Perfect and Paul Capsis. Photographer: Jeff Busby

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