Victorian Opera's 'Tis Pity: An Operatic Fantasia on Selling the Skin and the Teeth' Comes to Melbourne, Feb. 4-8

Let cabaret diva of the highest order Meow Meow draw you into a fantastic history of the concubine, courtesan, conqueror, queen and sing song girl in a poignant yet deeply funny song cycle composed by Richard Mills. Victorian Opera's 'Tis Pity: An Operatic Fantasia on Selling the Skin and the Teeth has its debut season at Melbourne Recital Centre from 4-8 February 2017.

Opera's naughty boy and audience favourite Kanen Breen stars opposite Meow in their first on stage dalliance - a dynamite theatrical pairing. Meow Meow reunites with director Cameron Menzies to create this new work following the sell-out season of Victorian Opera's Seven Deadly Sins (2015).

Richard Mills has worked closely with Meow Meow to develop this flight of fancy on the complexities of sex, pleasure, survival and salvation, from Ishtar to the Internet.

An examination of the world's oldest profession, 'Tis Pity poses questions about morality and explores the notion that everyone is selling themselves to some degree.

"This is a piece about the progress of the whore in history, an inspection of the triumphs, magnificence and trials of the "grandes horizontales" through time conducted by the quintessential tour guide of the picaresque - the legendary Meow Meow, whose delicacy, taste and judgement in all matters, including sex, will beguile, entrance and delight us all," Mills notes.

"She shines the light on the catalogue of human frailty, the need for love amidst hypocrisy, her humour and compassion and understanding of the human heart will lead us on a magical journey through the shadowy themes, both hilarious and sad, which accompany her meditations on the different yet common plights of "working girls (and boys)" throughout the ages," he adds.

The eclectic tuneful score, reflects Mills' love of Hollywood epics, ragtime, rhumbas, mambos, tangos and more.

With four performances only, don't miss another sell-out!

'Tis Pity: An Operatic Fantasia on Selling the Skin and the Teeth

4, 6, 7, 8 February 2017, 7:30pm

Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall

Tickets from $62 | $35 for 30 and under | Concessions available

Bookings: (03) 9699 3333

www.melbournerecital.com.au/

Creative Team

Concept & Libretto: Richard Mills, Meow Meow & Cameron Menzies

Conductor & Arranger: Richard Mills

Director: Cameron Menzies

Sound Designer: Jim Atkins

Meow Meow

Kanen Breen

Orchestra Victoria