"You know, funny to opera people is not funny to the Marx Brothers": Woody Allen Rehearses Gianni Schicchi In L.A.

On the other hand, characters who covet their adoptive daughters are just fine by opera standards -- nothing particularly wrong about that (only it's Strauss, not Puccini, Woody):

He said, “What if we do the Puccini trilogy — it’s three one-acts that are always done together? The first two, Billy Friedkin will direct. You’ll only be responsible for a one-act, a one-hour opera, and it’s funny.” You know, funny to opera people is not funny to the Marx Brothers. But I agreed to do it, because Mark Stern is a friend of mine and Plácido Domingo is someone who I have enormous respect for, and they both assured me I would be able to do it. And I said I would years ago, because these things are planned years in advance. I figured, “Eh, I’ll be dead before it happens. I’m 72. I’m never going to make it to the opera.” But it came around, and next Monday, I start rehearsal. I’ll just do the best I can and then get out of town and let them tar and feather Friedkin.

Tar, feathers, and don't forget the pea soup.

Comments

[Connie]

Maybe Butterfly is next? Soon-Yi can sing Cio Cio San. She used to be Previn's daughter am I correct?

[Les Mitchell]

Woody Allen is not the first film director to venture into opera, and "Gianni Schichi" would seem a logical choice. I wonder what he'd do with something like "Falstaff", "L'Italiana", or "Cosi Fan Tutte". On second thought, probably not. He's definitely got a dark side, though -- as proven by "Interiors" and "Match Point".
Mind you, I think he's depraved for what he did to Mia Farrow and their daughter ---- I mean REALLY bizarre ---- but I must admit that most of his films have been wonderful, most notably "Radio Days" and "Bullets Over Broadway". Come to think of it, he might be OK with opera after all.

[Willym]

No Connie - he stole Mia Farrow from Andre Previn, who stole her from Frank Sinatra. Mia had adopted Soon-Yi... oh dear this is starting to sound like Anna Russell doing the Ring!

[Bill Philin-Ploplis]

I'd be surprised if he can carry it off to his satisfaction.

[Pixeltenor]

Well, he is the son-in-law of opera composer André Previn... might have inspiration enough... or a red Previn telephone for advice.