In Performance (1978)

Orpheus in the Underworld (1980s BBC Adaptation) Plot Synopsis: Set in a satirical, whimsical version of ancient Greece, this BBC adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld reimagines the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice as a biting commentary on society, politics, and love. Eurydice, dissatisfied with her marriage to the self-absorbed musician Orpheus, falls for the suave and manipulative Pluto, the god of the Underworld. When Eurydice dies and is whisked away to Hades, Orpheus, more relieved than devastated, is reluctant to rescue her. However, Public Opinion--a personification of societal expectations--pressures him into descending to the Underworld to retrieve his wife. Meanwhile, the gods on Mount Olympus, bored with their immortal lives, decide to join the chaos in Hades after discovering Pluto's antics. Led by a hilariously disheveled Jupiter, the gods bring their own rivalries and dramas into the mix, culminating in the iconic and riotous "Can-Can" dance. The Underworld becomes a stage for comedic misunderstandings, romantic entanglements, and biting satire, as Orpheus awkwardly attempts to fulfill his reluctant hero role. In a twist, Jupiter himself disguises as a fly to woo Eurydice, creating a farcical love triangle. The opera concludes with Eurydice happily choosing to stay in the Underworld, free from her unremarkable marriage, and the gods returning to their bickering on Olympus. This spirited production captures Offenbach's irreverent humor and biting social critique with lavish costumes, witty dialogue, and a tongue-in-cheek nod to modern politics and society.