THE TURING TEST.
Edinburgh 2007 Fringe.
THE TURING TEST.
by Julian Wagstaff.
Augustine’s, 41 George IV Bridge.
Daily 9.25pm.
Runs 1hr 5min No interval.
TICKETS: 08452 26 27 21 or Fringe BO 0131 226 0000.
http://opera.eusa.ed.ac.uk
Review: Thelma Good 16 August 2007.
Little too tentative.
New operas are always rather a treat as far as I’m concerned. What instruments will be used, anything strange or electronic, what kind of music or singing will I hear, and will the acting or plot be convincing?
Julian Wagstaff’s music for this Edinburgh Studio Opera production is definitely classically rooted, no suggestion of any other genre, but he successfully brings in some electronic sounds in the character of the computer LUCIE (Live Unmediated Conversationally Active Entity). LUCIE is sung by the unseen Héloïse Plumley, whose voice is electronically distorted to good effect. It’s LUCIE who may pass The Turing Test, the test to determine whether a computer is capable of intelligent thought. Wagstaff’s libretto shows he can fuses musical line with conversations that move the plot forward. His words can also be song so we can understand them, both strengths in my book.
The plot is rather disappointingly a traditional opera plot despite it’s computer lab setting. Yes, it’s a love triangle. Apparently Wagstaff's PhD supervisor, of which this opera is a component, said without love interest there was no opera. I have sometimes mused that most opera makers have a narrow view of human and dramatic possibilities. Thankfully Wagstaff does work in the subplots of highly recognisable academic and researcher rivalries, as well as the computer’s grasp of opera. If The Turing Test could go beyond one act perhaps more could be made of these themes and possibilities.
Moley Campbell’s set conveys the technologically cutting edge background whilst Christopher Neil’s direction ensures the singers move and sing as if it were natural to communicate in song all the time. As is the thankful modern trend, all the vocalists can act as well as sing. Georgia Knower as the focal love interest and PHD Student and Barry McAleer, the Lab Assistant are notably strong in both departments.
It all makes up for a creditable premiere of an opera that explores a little too tentatively a world full of electronic and musical possibility.
Prof. Anton Milotovic: Maximilian Fuhrig.
Prof Colin Trevelyan: Julian Guidera.
Miss Stephanie Williams: Georgia Knower (every day but 17)/Linda Robertson (only Friday).
Mrs Clarissa Milotovic: Laura Smith.
Ferdinand Grosz: Barry McAleer.
The Computer (LUCIE): Héloïse Plumley.
Director: Christopher Neil.
Designer: Moley Campbell .
Musical Director: Tom Butler.
2007-08-29 09:53:41