by Nicholas Whittaker

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ – Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood. Composed by Poul Ruders.  Libretto by Paul Bentley. Conductor: David Angus. Stage Director: Anne Bogart. Movement Director: Shura Baryshnikov. Set and Costume Designer: James Schuette. Lighting Designer: Brian Scott. Sound Designer: J Jumbelic. Video Designer: Adam Thompson. Wig-Makeup Designer: Tom Watson. Presented by Boston Lyric Opera at the Ray Levietes Pavilion through May 12th

The operatic adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale raises eyebrows from the start, as does The Boston Opera Company decision to produce it in 2019. At this point, the 1985 novel has spawned a film adaptation, a Hulu television series (now three seasons in), two radio adaptations, a graphic novel, multiple stage plays, and a ballet. Atwood’s tale is arguably one of the most popular and revisited narratives in the modern canon. It is understandable, then, that one might want to tap into the zeitgeist and take advantage of this popularity by recycling the narrative in new forms. But each adaptation must justify its own existence, must explain why the story merits a retelling, what new work the ballet, play, film, and now opera does that the book (or one of the numerous other adaptations) did not. Such a task is lofty, but not impossible. Unfortunately, BLO’s Handmaid’s Tale fails to establish itself as a radical or exploratory addition to Atwood’s mythos, losing the most important pieces of the original text without compensating with substantial invention or imagination.

Read more “BLO’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Silences Its Most Crucial Role”