Opera Has Soap Stars in Its Eyes ; Karen Cargill's Loving the Big Hair and Glitz in Fun Production ofRossini Classic

By AVRIL CADDEN

Beach balls, bunny girls and shenanigans in the sun are not something you instantly associate with Scottish Opera.

But with their production of Rossini's An Italian Girl In Algiers, that's what you get.

Acclaimed New Zealand theatre director Colin McColl has set the classic tale in a TV studio during the filming of popular soap Algiers where there's hot Latin guys and feisty girls, lots of bling and as much drama off camera as there is on it.

Love rat Mustafa wants a new Italian wife but has get to rid of his old one,Elvira, first.The young and conveniently Italian Isabella arrives on the scene looking for her long, lost love Lindoro, but Mustafa is captivated by her.Drama ensues.

Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill sings Isabella and is loving playing the part.

She said:"What's interesting about this production is that because it's set in a soap opera we have to play two characters.We play our character in the soap, which is Isabella, and then we play the actor that plays her.

"The actor that plays her is a bit ditsy but she's everyone's friend. It's a challenge for us to be involved with cameras.We have to be in the right positions for the audience in the theatre and the camera/television screen, which is suspended above ourheads."

Karen says this combination of song and soap is perfect for newcomers to opera.

She explained:"If you've never been to opera it can be a daunting prospect. I think people expect it to be big screaming women, blood and guts.That can put them off.This is more accessible. It's still opera. I think it is very clever, great fun andyou'll go home with a big smile on your face."

The glitzy costumes that go with the drama are something Karen is having fun with. It's more Ali G and P Diddy than Tristan and Isolde, with big hair and lots of bling.

She said: "I'm having the best time and I've giggled every day. Some of the costumes are outrageous.Mine are not as outrageous as Isabella is a bit more reigned in. She's wild but not as wild as some of the characters. The director described it as a weebit of the girls of the Playboy Mansion."

Although she now lives in Glasgow,Karen is originally from Arbroath.She studied at the Royal Scottish Academy, then went to Toronto for a year where she met her husband Nick, who also sung, and then she came back to Scotland.She spent some time in Londonbut is happy to be back home.

She said:"London was an interesting experience.My husband is a city boy, he loved it but I'm still small town girl and Glasgow is enough for me. It's a big enough city and there's enough going on but it's not so big that you feel like you're one ofmillions."

It's perhaps not an obvious career choice from a girl from the north east of Scotland whose family weren't particularly musical.

Karen said:"Although my dad had a gorgeous voice he wouldn't admit it. I sang Paul McCartney's Mull Of Kintyre and Boney Msongs at home but it was my aunt who said to my mum that I should try singing lessons, and I did when I was about nine. I got ataste for singing in front of an audience at a local musical festival. I wanted to pursue it but I wasn't sure where it would go.

"My mum and dad have been amazing and my husband is brilliant.He now works for the Academy of Music and Drama.It's good being married to someone who understands the business.There's no doubt I wouldn't be here with without him and my teacher,Pat Hay, isthe best support I could ever ask for."

Away from the opera Karen chooses to chill out to music of a different kind - pop.

She said: "I was just listening to Lady Gaga.

Nick listens to classical music at home but it's my day job. I love dance music too."

And when it's not music, she loves spending time with their 15- month-old son Adam.

She said: "To come home, play with him, read some stories to him, it's the best relaxation you can possibly have."

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