As part of Greater Manchester Fringe Festival 2024, The Kings Arm in Salford welcomes the flamboyant, some would say ‘Diva’, Madame Chandelier, aka Delea Shand. With her one woman show, it’s safe to say this performance certainly does what it intends – Madame Chandelier, and her bright pink very high wig, single handedly throws her heart and soul into her mission to ‘save Opera’.
Shand is a proud Canadian and full of charisma. She has many accolades to her name and previous sell out shows at The Edinburgh Fringe. She was also nominated for best newcomer in the 2019 Manchester Fringe and is clearly master of her craft which was instant as she performed as ‘Madame Chandelier’, immediately captivating the audience.
Shand is open with the audience from the beginning in a most comedic way as she shares how she has been rejected from performing as an opera singer and actually relays a cutting rejection letter (through operatic singing) to the audience. Madame Chandelier undoubtedly adores opera yet is equally critical of it in its traditional form. She poses key questions of opera, such as ‘Why does the woman always die?’, ‘Why does the woman always end up getting married?’ She even poses the question of the audience that the woman even catches tuberculosis and considers what an ending would be like if there were antibiotics available, which of course creates a very different final scene!
Her message is clear – It is time for a change and opera must be saved! As she changes into a super woman costume and straps on an accordion, she involves the audience in various aspects of the show to demonstrate how new versions of well-known operas need to change. With references to operas such as ‘Carmen’, ‘La Boheme’, ‘Madame Butterfly’ and ‘Faust’, Madame Chandelier knows her craft. She also sings to a very high standard with piercing notes purely used for comedy but it’s safe to say that her actual talent is also undeniable.
Audience participation threads itself throughout the entire show, including one member being chosen to be the new ‘boss of opera’ who says yes or no to the proposals made by Madame Chandelier for changes to the endings of the stories of traditional opera.
On occasion Shand looks down at her notes and it although this appeared intentional, and indeed may well have been, it was at times a little off putting. However, it absolutely did not detract from her whole performance and when checking her notes she was also very obvious and comedic about it.
‘Madame Chandelier Saves Opera’ is wonderfully eccentric and extremely amusing, yet it still manages to make a valid point in the way inequalities are addressed in opera. As the show draws to a close to an operatic dance version of ‘Nessun Dorma,’ the purest of opera fanatics may be horrified but would certainly find it equally amusing.
Audiences absolutely do not need to be operatic aficionados to love Madame Chandelier. With an unusual combination of being incredibly talented in both her operatic vocal range and also her comedy – this is a performance like no other!
Suitable for all ages, opera lovers and opera haters this is a must see!
Reviewer: Angela Kelly
Reviewed: 20th July 2024
North West End UK Rating: