STUMPED @ Scottish Storytelling Centre

This opera challenges for many reasons. The first is the difficult topic: human responses to deforestation. All in all, STUMPED makes good points about the historically traumatic effects of deforestation on the human psyche, and how deforestation usually makes civilisations collapse. However, to describe this opera as having a plot is a stretch. Instead of couching the show in human terms, the songs and libretto restrict themselves to narration of mythological deforestation events and a chat forum. The lack of human connection makes the show feel more like a lateral thinking lecture set to music.

The second challenge is the music. This mini opera has a mini orchestra; however, this orchestra comprises only brass and strings. There is no underlying tempo to hold the score together and the libretto seems to be prose, not lyrics. It all makes for an uncomfortably staccato listen. The added fact that the two singers were both sopranos meant that the audience experience (at least for me) felt incomplete and actually quite stressful.

The third challenge is the performance. The choice to use surtitles only draws attention to moments where the singers’ delivery doesn’t match the script. On top of this, somebody made the decision to repeat words and ssssssssssstretch out letters in the vocal performances.

I suppose these challenges – and the discomfort they inspired in me – evoke a shocking sense of realisation about how deforestation makes it much harder for humans to survive. Crucially, after the show there was a guest speaker – this time, Amy Clarkson of Applecross Community Woodland – to tell us how woodlands can be saved through community purchases and ownership. It sounds wonderful, more wonderful than the previous 40 minutes.

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STUMPED, Scottish Storytelling Centre (Netherbow Theatre), 6, 8, 11 & 13 Aug, 6.45pm, £12-14