The Counterfeit Opera, by Kate Tarker and Dan Schlosberg, reimagines The Beggar's Opera in contemporary New York, focusing on themes of wealth disparity and capitalist critique, with an impactful performance backdrop in the upscale Little Island amphitheater. Despite its provocative messages about billionaires and democracy, the setting evokes irony as an affluent aesthetic contrasts sharply with the content. Little Island showcases a diverse programming palette this season, including various adaptations and collaborations, which arguably complicates the experience of grappling with socio-economic concerns in such a luxurious environment.
We have a counterfeit democracy, where big money pulls the strings," the chorus shouts in the production's overheated conclusion. "Billionaires will soon be trillionaires, while blaming the poor for all the things.
the experience of being there and watching productions of that sort feels a bit like being led into a highbrow bear trap.
Does the venue think a soupçon of class warfare will make it all the more chic?
It's difficult to think of other venues that are pumping as much money into crossover collaborations between theater, dance, and opera.
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