We just saw Rigoletto. Let’s keep it real.

The musical production the singing, the orchestral music was great. Really enjoyed. The rest was distracting from the beautiful singing at best, and quite frankly just vulgar and artistically lazy.

There were moments the set scenery impressed aesthetically and was additive, then IKEA plastic furniture gets thrown in. Maybe it’s more cost effective this way to have bare bone production like this?

Rigoletto begins dressed up as a drag queen in corset. It does not make a statement like cross dressing Sam Smith / Little Nas X / Billy Porter or body positive Lizzo, just a rip off of popular culture.

The dancing and acting, the supporting cast were subjected to unnecessary nudity, crass mimicry and gross exaggeration of sexual acts, constantly. I am surprised no one passed out from that much convulsion. Over the top uncalled for, and I fail to see the artistic value here. I had to shut my eyes to concentrate on the music sometimes. People did applaud for them at the end but I thought as support for the humiliation they had to endure.

Shock value for its own sake does not equate art, it detracts from it. Comedians can draw easy cackles telling crass jokes but it takes skills and intellect to make audience laugh over mundane innocent subjects. Sheer laziness on the artistic director’s part.

It is presumptuous to think that audience would slurp this up as art? Beware, just like people catch on to the fact that the emperor wears no clothes, that Damien Hirst is questionable getting his minions to pickle a shark in formaldehyde, you will be found out too.

It’s not my first time seeing Rigoletto. Yes people don’t necessarily want to see the same classical production each time. But I miss the productions where you can appreciate the elaborate efforts, the labour, the thoughts that went into the stage production as well as the dancing and acting.

People make an effort to go to the opera, dress nice and enjoy the experience. Maybe the theatre wants to make opera approachable but let’s not be hypocrites here. Our tickets cost 300 euros each so the pricing can be alienating for many. Please can you respect the audience and deliver a special experience? Otherwise can just watch videos on YouTube or a cheap strip club.

Recent years the opera productions here at the Royal Theatre have left me wanting. Turandot last year also seemed anachronistic, modern production yet filled with kitschy stereotypes of Asians and costume references and designs that confuse one culture for another. Was i lt ignorance or was it laziness, but I digress.

Yes art can and should evolve and adapt. And I think the production can be better without having to stoop to this cheap level.

Please you can be better. Show craft, share your passion for the arts in a respectful way, differentiate in a positive manner, and inspire the audience.