Jonathan McGovern

A witty, modern digital adaptation of Gian Carlo Menotti’s 1947 one-act romantic comedy opera, relocated from its original Manhattan setting to the bar of the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. Earnestly lovable Ben attempts to propose marriage to Lucy before catching a train at Waverley Station, but his stuttering efforts are constantly frustrated by her complete obsession with her mobile phone. Commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival for the 'My Light Shines On' lockdown project.

Platée is a character whose self-deception and entrancement places her in the middle of a heartless plot, devised by the gods to cure Juno of her obsessive jealousy over Jupiter and his romantic attachments. Jupiter pretends to fall in love with Platée only to abandon her once Juno arrives, proving she has no reason to be jealous. Comedy had traditionally played little part in French opera. Lully soon eliminated comic episodes from his tragedies; from then until the appearance of this work, only a handful of operas had comic themes. That for Platée is the mock marriage between the god Jupiter and an ugly marsh nymph, who is totally convinced of her own charms.

A handsome prince falls in love with an abducted princess. Armed with musical instruments, he and his singing sidekick mount a rescue mission that tests their commitment to truth, love and humanity itself.