26 సెప్టెంబర్, 2025

"Hughes’s libretto is full of smart, Maga-bashing one-liners, dodgy rhymes and contrived but nevertheless funny exchanges that (possibly) hold a mirror up to the weird actualite of family life in Trumpland."

"At one point we learn that the president has mistaken Melania’s body-double for his wife — with predictable consequences. The comedy isn’t subtle, but neither is its target."

From "Melania the Opera review — a sweary, funny first lady faces the music/The year is 2027 and Russia invades Slovenia: what would Melania do? The composer Jeremy Limb and singer Melinda Hughes dive into Trumpland in a smart, Maga-bashing piece" (London Times).

Is "actualite" a typo (for "actuality") or is the Times using the word the OED spells "actualité" (with an accent on the "e")? That word is defined as "An event from real life, a news item; (in plural) news, current affairs. Also: a work representing or recording such an event."

Among the quotes, from 1859, "the subject of her Saintship is not a matter of mere historical interest, but aspires to the dignity of an 'actualité.'"

87 కామెంట్‌లు:

john mosby చెప్పారు...

Respect my actuali-tay! CC, JSM

Michael Fitzgerald చెప్పారు...

Wait, you mean to say that libtard leftist shitheads think that juvenile appropriation of artistic endeavors in the service of their deranged and despicable ideologies and cultish, herd-like reactions is actually smart and appealing?
No shit.

rehajm చెప్పారు...

There should be somber professionalism around the wielding of comic opera but this is where we are….

Josephbleau చెప్పారు...

I hope it includes a stylized interpretive dance behind a sheer curtain of the rape of Melania’s underwear drawer by the FBI.

Jaq చెప్పారు...
ఈ కామెంట్‌ను రచయిత తీసివేశారు.
Mary Beth చెప్పారు...

Smart as in stinging or smart as in quick-witted?

loudogblog చెప్పారు...

I have no problem with a theatrical production bashing Republicans, (One of the jobs that theater has served is to squer those in power.) but what I have a problem with is the one-sidedness of this. Notice how nobody is "brave enough" to do a show that skewers Democrats.

Jaq చెప్పారు...

Pro-war propaganda. Steering a country into a war is like steering an aircraft carrier, only it's harder and takes more planning. The question is, is the playwright a propaganda pitcher or a propaganda catcher, my guess is "propaganda catcher." Imagining they are clever for repeating what has been drummed into their heads by the media on all sides.

Jaq చెప్పారు...

Starmer was afraid to let the full parliament meet for a speech by Trump when he was in London because they would probably have voted him out. But you won't see them attacking the massively unpopular Starmer, who would seem to be more of an appropriate target for a skewering by the British theatre.

Beasts of England చెప్పారు...

’…smart, Maga-bashing one-liners…’

Groundbreaking!

bagoh20 చెప్పారు...

Jokes about MAGA?
Well, it's about time. I was wondering when someone in the entertainment world would try that. So refreshing.

RCOCEAN II చెప్పారు...

Bashing Trump, conservatives, and those icky lower-class white people. Cutting Edge baby.

And they say opera is dead. Hope Mike Pence and his wife can get some tickets.

RCOCEAN II చెప్పారు...

BTW, I've learned from experience that when some MSM outlet like the Guardian, New Yorker, Times, or the NYTs labels something as "smart" and "funny" - its usually neither.

Michael Fitzgerald చెప్పారు...

Horseshit like this "opera" are the reasons Trump took the Kennedy Center away from libtards.

tommyesq చెప్పారు...

So brave, these folks. Now do Mohammad's 12-year-old wife.

Iman చెప్పారు...

Meh

rehajm చెప్పారు...

Hope Mike Pence and his wife can get some tickets.

…they must have a subscription and a box…

Iman చెప్పారు...

Can’t they just go round up some underage girls and pass ‘em along for a good, old-fashioned rape gang rapin’?!?!?

Feckin’ knobs…

Paddy O చెప్పారు...

band kids always liked to make fun of the cool kids. But it's sad because the cool kids don't care and the band kids just seem more sad for not being comfortable with themselves.

Aggie చెప్పారు...

Does anybody get stabbed, or have their head cut off? In jest, of course.

Paddy O చెప్పారు...

Some band kids, that is. The really talented/skilled ones just are there for the music and comfortable with themselves.

tim maguire చెప్పారు...

"contrived but nevertheless funny."

Times-speak for "I agree with its politics."

RCOCEAN II చెప్పారు...

Lets make a smart funny "edgy" Opera about Harvey Weinstein, or Bibi Netenyahu. Doubt that will happen.

Achilles చెప్పారు...

From "Melania the Opera review — a sweary, funny first lady faces the music/The year is 2027 and Russia invades Slovenia: what would Melania do? The composer Jeremy Limb and singer Melinda Hughes dive into Trumpland in a smart, Maga-bashing piece" (London Times).

If you point out that this is just boring lowest common denominator humor that only stupid people will laugh at you are attacking their freedom of speech.

Achilles చెప్పారు...

If you put an Obama mask on a rodeo clown though that is an attack on our democracy.

Achilles చెప్పారు...

It is time to start making fun of stupid white women with college degrees.

Trump's jokes about people like Rosie O'Donell are actually funny though.

rehajm చెప్పారు...

It is time to start making fun of stupid white women with college degrees

I thought we were already doing that? I shall redouble my efforts…

pacwest చెప్పారు...

That's not fair! The First Lady gets an Opera? The President just got some crummy musical. You'd think it would be the other way around him being the President and all. Either way I wouldn't recommend they go to the theater.

Peachy చెప్పారు...

Mocking Trump and his family. How fresh and brave.
Bring on the leftwing media circle jerk celebrations.

Dude1394 చెప్పారు...

Democrats are the party of hate and violence. This is part and parcel.

Not Illinois Resident చెప్పారు...

Jimmy Kimmel attempting to book Melinda for next week's show...

tcrosse చెప్పారు...

I have said many times that Hillary is material for an opera. The fallen queen, with a faithless husband, has her birthright stolen by the vile usurper. After a night of humiliation, she ends up raving, like Lear, on the blasted heath. I would play it for laughs

Jamie చెప్పారు...

"Hughes’s libretto is full of smart, Maga-bashing one-liners, dodgy rhymes and contrived but nevertheless funny exchanges... The comedy isn’t subtle,

So is it "smart" or is it puerile?

JaimeRoberto చెప్పారు...

Sad.

RNB చెప్పారు...

Anyone else here old enough to remember "MacBird"?

Inga చెప్పారు...
ఈ కామెంట్‌ను రచయిత తీసివేశారు.
Inga చెప్పారు...

“Horseshit like this "opera" are the reasons Trump took the Kennedy Center away from libtards.”

Kennedy Center needs some WWWF! Ooops, WWE.

Michael Fitzgerald చెప్పారు...

RNB said...
Anyone else here old enough to remember "MacBird"?
9/26/25, 2:09 PM

*raises hand* I read it too. We had it in one of the family bookcases when I was a kid. Don't remember much but it was pretty straight satire... I think.

Achilles చెప్పారు...

nga said...

“Horseshit like this "opera" are the reasons Trump took the Kennedy Center away from libtards.”

Kennedy Center needs some WWWF! Ooops, WWE.

Violent evil idiot makes stupid hillbilly joke.

News at 11.

Inga చెప్పారు...

Highbrow stuff.

“President Donald Trump has proposed holding a UFC event on the White House grounds as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States, set for July 4, 2026.”

TeaBagHag చెప్పారు...

Pretty Woman is eerily similar to Donnie and Melania’s origin story.

TeaBagHag చెప్పారు...

Also Lady and the Tramp with a couple of minor changes;
they make the girl dog an international escort and the boy dog a conman/pedophile.

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

Trump likes high-maintenance women.

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

Michelle is high-maintenance too but nobody bothers maintaining her.

jim చెప్పారు...

Yeah, they won't be laughing so hard once the Federal Opera Commision gets the a list of the producers, cast, orchestra, stages hand, bar tenders, and audience.

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

Pretty woman though was mean to hired help that had been mean to her. And held out for a better deal, celebrated as a triumph by the film.

jim చెప్పారు...

Peachy said...
Mocking Trump and his family. How fresh and brave.

As they all walk away with billions.

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

In Notting Hill pretty woman settled for motherhood against movie star idolizing. In both cases gave up prostitution, maybe was the common theme. Is that true for Melania?

rehajm చెప్పారు...

Trumps been at Bethpage all afternoon watching Ryder Cup. How about an aria on that, dooshbags?

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

Then there was Eat, Pray, Love, for which there was no excuse. To hell with your husband theme, given up for who knows what. Candles or something.

Jim at చెప్పారు...

So is it "smart" or is it puerile?

I'll go with lazy. With a side helping of tedious.

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

Trump has always attended golf/tennis events. Imus used to mention going with Trump to tennis matches to hang out. That's when Imus noticed that Trump has a Don Rickles sense of humor. This would have been in the 90s or before.

rhhardin చెప్పారు...

Bernstein could have done a Candide on the democrats except he was a leftist and not likely to spot the excesses to mock.

Big Mike చెప్పారు...

“Smart” and “Maga-bashing” [sic] do not go together.

TeaBagHag చెప్పారు...

Rhhardin, yes. Melania is no longer in the game and has fallen deeply in love with Dementia Donnie. It’s so obvious when you see them interact, the looks she gives him are pure affection. He’s so appealing in every way; a physical specimen AND so obviously a gentleman in every way. Other Potuss have side chicks but Donnie would NEVER pay to fuck a porn Star while Melania had his spawn inside her.
Just watch their body language when they interact.
This modern day love saga deserves so much more respect!

J Severs చెప్పారు...

Is there a web site where I can short the predicted box office revenues?

Rusty చెప్పారు...

They consistently and erroneously get us wrong. I wonder why?

J L Oliver చెప్పారు...

But does it have oomph?

Josephbleau చెప్పారు...

“ TeaBagHag said...
Pretty Woman is eerily similar to Donnie and Melania’s origin story.”

Very sweet post there, from grok:

“Origin: The allegations first gained traction in August 2016 via a Daily Mail article, which cited a Slovenian gossip magazine (Suzy) claiming that Melania’s early modeling agency in New York (run by Paolo Zampolli) doubled as an escort service, and that she provided “services beyond modeling.” The article also suggested she met Trump earlier than reported (in 1995 at a party involving Jeffrey Epstein) and posed nude to attract high-profile clients.
• Legal Response: Melania sued the Daily Mail for defamation, seeking $150 million. In 2017, the paper retracted the story, issued a public apology, and settled the case (reportedly for around $3 million, including legal fees). They admitted the escort claims were “false and defamatory” and had “no evidence” to support them. Similar lawsuits against U.S. bloggers (e.g., Webster Tarpley) resulted in court rulings allowing her claims to proceed, with judges noting that “high-end escort” implies prostitution.
• Other Sources: Fact-checkers like Snopes and PolitiFact have rated these claims as unfounded or false. A 2025 resurgence tied them to Ghislaine Maxwell/Epstein rumors (e.g., claims of an introduction at a Maxwell party), but these stem from the same 2016 copypasta and lack proof. Zampolli denied any escort operations, calling it “fucking rubbish.”

TeaBagHag చెప్పారు...

Lol. She’s definitely a working girl.
If she wasn’t, MAGAts wouldn’t have a 4 paragraph reply “refuting” that accusation.
Because no one EVER settles lawsuits because the other side has more power to pull strings and deeper pockets.

narciso చెప్పారు...

the Daily mail paid a pretty penny for that lie,

why would putin invade slovenia, is this more garbage like the hbo teleplay with emma thompson,

like sebastian stan taking a flyer on that other piece of trash, any wonder why Brave New World tanked,

narciso చెప్పారు...

how many have died since the ukraine invasion started under biden a million, a million and a half, which was fueled in part by Russian oil, which provided a bribe to shut the pipelines, and then the discounted oil we bought from India,

narciso చెప్పారు...

they like to lie and defame, the Times hasn't really touched Rotherdam and Rochdale, to any corresponding degree, involved thousands of abused women, because we can't call out the ethnicity of the perpetrators,

RCOCEAN II చెప్పారు...

A "Sweary" opera - which is a weird word to use. What they mean is there are a lots "Fucks" "Shits" "Dicks" and "Cunts" to cover up for the fact that most the music isn't Funny or witty.

Probably the audience will be rolling the aisles every time someone says "Fuck". Especially if they have a few drinks in them.

RMc చెప్పారు...

I swear, they never get tired of embarrassing themselves, do they?

RCOCEAN II చెప్పారు...
ఈ కామెంట్‌ను రచయిత తీసివేశారు.
narciso చెప్పారు...

well they are what's the relevant phrase, mewling quims (I'm surprised that Joss Whedon was allowed to get away with that in the Avengers, (Hiddleston wouldn't have improvised that)

chuck చెప్పారు...

The Times and Evening Standard only give it three stars out of five. Forty minutes of slightly above average for £6.50 to £29.50. You can get fish and chips in London for £12.00, the choice is yours.

Assistant Village Idiot చెప్పారు...

Making fun of Trump! How novel! These artists are amazing in their ability to come up with new social commentary.

Jamie చెప్పారు...

I'm surprised that Joss Whedon was allowed to get away with that in the Avengers, (Hiddleston wouldn't have improvised that)

I just always assumed that he did improvise it! Huh

Jaq చెప్పారు...

There is nothing happening in Britain that merits the witty and stinging dissection, better they should focus their talents and powerful comedic prowess on America...

Oh... wait... Britain is slowly going bust - The Economist

Biff చెప్పారు...

One might imagine the reviews that a similarly written libretto about Michelle would receive.

tommyesq చెప్పారు...

"contrived but nevertheless funny" = fraudulent lies.

Lazarus చెప్పారు...

This what we have in place of art.

Wasn't there a story a few weeks back involving another idiot librettist?

https://althouse.blogspot.com/2025/08/perhaps-such-tortuous-jargon-clotted.html

Rocco చెప్పారు...

Jamie said…
So is it "smart" or is it puerile?

“Smarmy” would work.

narciso చెప్పారు...

quite pathetic, the president has been with melania for about a quarter century now,

n.n చెప్పారు...

Is smart Ass an oxymoron?

Tina Trent చెప్పారు...

I have never thought Michelle Obama is a man, and this is just as dehumanizing, except the prestige press is snorting this up their cocaine-damaged, bleeding nostrils.

Tina Trent చెప్పారు...

Realize that you would all be cited by the police, and some arrested, for posting this in the nation once called Britain.

So where's the real outrage? Go, go, Tommy Robinson.

narciso చెప్పారు...

presided by a king, who made his feelings about his consort very plain

narciso చెప్పారు...

yes that was silly about michelle, she's an angry woman (ed klein suggested part of the reason) who was ungrateful for the opportunities given to her

narciso చెప్పారు...

I think there is somewhat of a parallel with carla bruni, whose significant other engaged in some shady campaign financing with qaddafi, and now is going to the clink, a fatter version of sarkozy was seen in the netflix soap Marseilles, with Gerald De pardieu

narciso చెప్పారు...

the whole french political system is as crooked as all, thats how macron rises to the top of the heap

narciso చెప్పారు...

David Hare a real lefty wackjob is at least clever in his intrigues, like the Worricker series, and most recently Roadkill a dark satire suggestive of certain persons, but not particular to any

JIM చెప్పారు...

So edgy. The Left can't make a profit at their news, talk shows, movies, or plays, because they just can't do anything but put "the party" first. So much Fascism. In order to generate any enthusiasm, or profit, they must now direct their ire to the most beautiful First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy, Melania Trump. They have zero class or grace. Just hate. And "the Party" - everything in, of, and for "the Party". Fascism.

Oso Negro చెప్పారు...

It’s just so CUTTING edge to make a libretto mocking Trump! What will these rascals do next? Revive Stephen Foster with a musical based on Obama? The Mellifluous Mulatto has a real ring to it!

Tim చెప్పారు...

This is a great follow-up to the earlier story on Broadway plays not making any money. Perhaps it has something to do with drivel like this?

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