A lively and knowing cast managed to pack conspiracy, adultery, obsession, attempted murder, drug abuse, cross-dressing, cross-cross dressing, sex, narcissism and threats of violence into just over two hours.
Director Ashley Pearson even thoughtfully arranged for bad guy Nerone (an excellent Amber Reeves), relaxing after a line of cocaine, to “be done a kindness” by a confused looking soldier.
With his opposite number Brennan Alleyne, Jack Harberd made a very funny twosome.
The Prologue sees the gold-clad goddesses of Love, Fortune and Virtue having a bit of a ding-dong about which of them will triumph.
Sadly, the latter of the three comes off worst and it is lust that is the clear winner.
The Roman Emperor Nerone, guided by his toga snake, has become obsessed with the vampish Poppea (an impressive performance by the perma-purple clad Kristina Ammattil).
He wants to ditch his wife Ottavia (the simply magnificent mezzo of Clover Kayne) but is cautioned against by advisor Seneca (the voice of the evening, bass Masimba Ushe).
Poppea has discarded her previous beau Ottone (the expressive Amber Reeves) and in him Ottavia finds a willing sap ready to knock off her competitor.
Unfortunately, Drusilla (the extraordinary presence of soprano Betty Makharinsky) gets mixed up (on so many levels) in the plot and well… the bad guys are triumphant.
Seb Gillot led the HGO Antiqua Orchestra, placed on the right of the sparse but flexible stage (with ambitious but effective lighting by Sofia Alexiadou).
The eight-strong music group offered pace and a sensitively responsive account of themselves, especially Kristiina Watt on Theorbo.
The staging wasn’t quite X-rated, but a gruesomely bloody suicide and some simulated copulation rather demanded, and got, the attention of the audience.
Delivered with the usual HGO gusto, panache and joyous sense of fun, this raunchy production will remain in the memory for quite some time.
HGO’s Poppea runs at Jacksons Lane Highgate on selected dates until November 16.
