King’s Head Theatre has more than one Madam Butterfly

Published: 28th January, 2011
by JOSH LOEB

A BUTTERFLY flew to the rescue at an Islington playhouse this week. 

The King’s Head Theatre in Upper Street is currently hosting a production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with three actors playing the title character on a rolling basis.

Monday’s performance was plunged into crisis when the pianist, Elspeth Wilkes, found herself stranded on the A40 while driving to Islington from her home in Reading.

Minutes before the curtain went up, director Adam Spreadbury-Maher asked Laura Casey, who was due to play Butterfly, if she could stand in for Ms Wilkes. 

Though she trained as a pianist, Ms Casey had not played professionally for five years – but amazingly she managed to play the entire score without a glitch.

She said: “It was a bit tough but it was a great experience – the kind of thing you only get in a small opera house.”

The King’s Head Theatre was recently rebranded as London’s Little Opera House and is set to stage productons of Pagliacci and Carmen later this year.

Mr Spreadbury-Maher, who heads up resident company OperaUpClose, has made it his mission to bring opera to the masses via daring productions including Madama Butterfly, which has been transplanted to modern-day Bangkok in this version and examines the world of the city’s ladyboys. 

The production has been extended until mid-March.

Mr Spreadbury-Maher said: “Laura has perfect pitch. Earlier on in the run she had to play the role of Kate Pinkerton and she picked it up in half a day. On Monday night she was singing the role of Butterfly through her playing.”

• For tickets to Madam Butterfly call the King's Head Theatre box office on 08444 771 000.