Opera Theatre Company will tour the ‘nightmare cabaret opera’ Vera of Las Vegas by US composer Daron Hagen during November and December.

Hagen’s one-act jazz-based score has a slick, contemporary text by Pulitzer prize-winning Irish poet Paul Muldoon, full of his characteristic witty word-play and with contemporary references from U2 to The Crying Game.

The plot follows Dumdum and Taco (Alan Fairs and Eugene Ginty), two hapless IRA operatives who take the wrong flight and end up in Las Vegas. They are pursued by an immigration official disguised as a flight attendant (Charlotte Page) and they encounter the eponymous heroine, Vera (Jonathan Peter Kenny), in less than salubrious circumstances. A chorus of preening lapdancers, stewardesses and show girls comments on the unfolding horrors (Irish singers Rebekah Coffey, Carolyn Dobbin, Shirley Keane, Bridget Knowles and Elizabeth Woods).

Directed by OTC’s artistic director, Annilese Miskimmon, Vera of Las Vegas is designed by Neil Irish (set/costumes), Tina MacHugh (lighting), Linda Dobell (movement ) and Ciara Moore (video). Irish conductor David Brophy directs an ensemble in the composer’s own cabaret scoring for piano/keyboards (Brophy), reeds (Ken Edge), bass (Joe Csibi) and percussion (Noel Eccles).

Vera of Las Vegas tours to Sligo (20 Nov), Bray (23 Nov), Limerick (25 Nov), Cork (27 Nov), Galway (29 Nov) and Dublin (2 and 4 Dec). All performances at 8.00pm. Suitable for over 15 years. Full tour information from Opera Theatre Company, email info@opera.ie