A mesmerising one-woman performance that blends operatic power with intimate storytelling, DIVA is a moving portrait of a life lived in the spotlight.
Vivienne Powell takes centre stage in the Peter Blackburn directed DIVA, which finds a home in the Assembly Festival’s Drawing Room this Edinburgh Fringe. This powerful piece explores the fragility of memory, delving into the transformative experiences and talent of a fading icon.
Written by Powell, this one-woman show sees once-great Australian opera singer Louisa McCrae unpacking a suitcase filled with treasured mementos from her life and career. With each piece removed, stories, songs and emotions are triggered, unearthing memories that range from tumultuous to heart-warming.
On a stage adorned with Louisa’s trunk labelled Treasures of My Heart, a small armchair and a table with a landline phone, the operatic star navigates the space in a flowing white nightgown. Louisa is confused and distressed, hunting for mementos that will soothe her unsettled state. The reasons for this become apparent, but are best discovered in the theatre.
Beginning with a small bust of Beethoven taken from her mementos, Louisa recalls her initial love of music, soon followed by her talents being recognised in Australia. An initially supportive boyfriend helps her chase her performing dreams with a move to London, but the relationship turns abusive and destructive. Supportive relationships with the women in her life, including a best friend in London and reassuring calls from her mother in Australia, keep Louisa on track and pursuing her passion.
A move to Paris and performances at the MET further cement Louisa’s career success, with starring roles in high-profile operas. This allows for powerful musical moments, Powell’s dazzling mezzo-soprano voice commanding the stage in Una voce poco fa from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Delibes’ Flower Duet, and Sieczynski’s Vienna, City of My Dreams. These moments showcase Louisa’s formidable talent and add further conviction to the piece.
DIVA takes the audience on an emotional journey, from the highs of Louisa’s musical triumphs to the challenges of her personal life. The abusive relationship presents a sobering contrast to the glamour of the opera stage, while hope emerges in a new romance in Paris, though this too leads to hardship. These narrative turns allow Powell to dig deep into the psyche of the character, offering insight into the experiences that fuel Louisa’s ability to infuse her performances with raw, compelling emotion.
These memories unfold in a fragmented yet broadly chronological order, inviting the audience to piece Louisa’s story together. Rich in emotion, DIVA convinces you that you have witnessed a true story in the theatrical biography – many thanks to its astounding lead performer. Powell’s performance captures themes of success, love and loss with masterful control, transfixing the audience for the sixty-minute runtime.
DIVA is a richly layered and beautifully operatic piece of theatre, Vivienne Powell delivers a performance that is as vocally stunning as it is emotionally resonant.
DIVA runs until August 24 at the Assembly Rooms. Tickets are available here.
