Popera: Sex, Death & Politics review (Melbourne International Comedy Festival)

At first glance, you would think that opera and pop music are on polar opposites of the spectrum. But Uma Dobia is here to drag them onto the same stage and make them hash it out. Popera: Sex, Death & Politics is part cabaret, part game show, and entirely committed to examining how these two musical worlds intersect, particularly in the way they handle (or mishandle) sex, death, and politics, especially when it comes to the treatment of women.

Unfortunately, the evening I attended had a number of tech issues, both sound and visual, resulting in Dobia singing the opening track a cappella. Dobia took it all in her stride as the wizards worked their magic behind the curtain to get everything up and running; improvising a few songs and instigating some banter with the audience.

Even without the tech difficulties making Dobia work overtime, her presence is undeniable. With a Masters in Opera (which she cheekily reminds us of), she straddles the world of classical and contemporary with flair. Accompanied by pianist Isabel Cameron, the original songs and operatic takes on pop hits are genuinely impressive, and it’s a real shame she didn’t have more time to just sing.

The show is divided into the three parts that make its title, with audience participation quiz segments peppered throughout that highlight opera and pop music's ever intertwined relationship. Allusions to Maria Callas being a WAP, and a Lizzo and Puccini mash-up are quite entertaining, but these moments are few between. The thematic exploration on the patriarchy’s power and influence stays fairly surface-level, and by the third round, it starts to feel a little repetitive and you wish it would delve further into these ideas.

There’s also a subplot involving Dobia’s assistant Trevor leaving her for a new job that's meant to tie into the themes of how women are viewed and valued, but ultimately it is a narrative detour that doesn’t add much and could be scrapped without loss (and gives us extra songs!)

Popera: Sex, Death & Politics is a chaotic but charming night out, powered by Dobia’s charisma and vocal chops. It’s got brains, jokes, and plenty of personality, but it could benefit from a tighter structure and more conceptual depth. But if you like your opera with a side of pop and a splash of feminist sass, it’s definitely worth playing the game.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Bauhaus, 118 Elgin St, Carlton
Season: until 20 April | Sat - Sun 4pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $29 Full | $25 Conc
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival