Theatre
Interview
Backstage Pass: L’elisir d’amore – Ian O’Reilly
Irish National Opera's production of L'elisir d'amore has come to the Gaiety Theatre for a limited run ending on Saturday 31 May 2025.
L’elisir d’amore could be described as a classic rom-com, a young man in love, the beautiful object of his desires, some obstacles and heartache, plus of course an elixir of love and singing.
We spoke with Ian O’Reilly about misconceptions of the world of opera, clean teeth, and Moone Boy.
Can you introduce yourself and the role you are playing?
My name is Ian O’Reilly. I am playing Truffaldino, aka Dulcamara’s assistant, in L’elisir d’amore.
How would you describe L’elisir d’amore to people who don’t know anything about it?
I would describe L’elisir d’amore as a classic rom-com. I mean, it has all the tropes that we love and expect to see that make it entertaining. It’s a really hilarious, farcical show, and I think it’s actually really accessible to everybody. It’s not just for opera goers. It’s for everyone who wants to experience a really good night out.
Ros Kavanagh
Your first role was Padraic in Moone Boy and now you’re performing with the Irish National Opera. They seem worlds apart. How did you end up in the world of opera?
Yes, my first role was Padraic in Moone Boy, which is worlds apart from opera. And I never expected to see myself here, but I worked with Cal McCrystal, who is our wonderful director, about five or six years ago in The Abbey Theatre on a show called Drama at Inish, and Cal called me up about three or four months ago, and he said, “Hi Ian, do you want to be in an opera?” And I was like, “Not really.” And then he spoke to me about the story and about what it was, and guided me away from my misconceptions that I think a lot of people have about opera, that I had myself. He guided me away from those and explained to me what it would be. Once I understood what I was jumping into, I was like, yeah, absolutely. That’s how I ended up here!
What would you say the main differences are between performing on camera and performing on stage?
Oh, the main differences between performing on camera and performing on stage. That’s a good question. I think on stage it’s so much different, because you have, obviously, the live aspect. You have a lot of adrenaline in your body. You have the live feedback from the audience, which, depending on how they are responding to you, can influence your performance. Whereas on camera, it is often a lot more finite, it’s a lot more stylized sometimes, and you can have multiple goals, so you don’t have to worry if you make a mistake. But sometimes, if you make a mistake on stage, that’s all the fun of it. It keeps it alive, and you’ll make sure you never make that mistake again.
Ros Kavanagh
How would you describe your character of Truffaldino, assistant to Dulcamara?
My character of Truffaldino is a mischievous little assistant who is not particularly wonderful at his job, but he tries his best. It’s weird, I often get cast as characters who aren’t very good at their jobs, so I’m not exactly sure what casting directors are trying to tell me, but I’m going to hope that it’s not reflective of me as an actor.
What was the rehearsal process like?
The rehearsal process was really, really interesting. It was quite daunting actually, for me, coming in as an actor into a room full of opera singers. As I said, I knew nothing about opera I knew nothing about classical music. And so I felt very, very daunted, but I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone was so understanding and so open to helping me be welcomed into this process.
So I really, really enjoyed it. It was difficult because, as an actor, there was no script for me. I can’t read sheet music, and so trying to remember where and what I’m supposed to be doing at each time was a much different experience to regular acting. I didn’t realise how much as an actor, you rely on your script and your words, to know what you’re doing and when.
Ros Kavanagh
What additional steps do you have to take for performing in an opera when you will be singing every night?
Well, when I’m singing every night, my beautiful Aria….(laughs). I don’t sing much. I only sing three or four words, so I don’t have to do too much. But I have actually been trying to take care of my voice a lot more, because you have to project, and it’s very daunting as a non-singer, when you’re surrounded by these wonderful, wonderful opera singers, it’s very easy to sound ridiculous. So yeah, I’ve just been trying to take care of my voice a little bit more and watch the conductor
How is it learning lines in Italian rather than English?
Learning lines in Italian rather than English, that was slightly difficult. But I did spend four months in Italy last year. I was doing a film over there, so I kind of got my mouth and my words and my brain around Italian, and so that made it a little bit easier. And I love languages! I love, love, love languages. So yeah, I jumped at it.
You made your stage debut here in the Gaiety Theatre in ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’, what’s it like to return the venue?
Yes, I did make my stage debut here in the Gaiety, it’s really nice to return. I haven’t been here since that show, since The Cripple of Inishmaan, and it’s such a beautiful theatre, and I still recognise some of the staff here and everything. So it’s been really, really nice to come back. I was walking through the backstage area the other day, and I text my friend Jamie Lee. I was like, “Oh my God, I swear to God, I could see you on the props table for a second, sitting there waiting to go on stage.” So it was really cool. It was like a time warp.
Ros Kavanagh
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
I don’t really have any pre-performance rituals. The only thing which doesn’t make me sound like a very swanky actor, but basically the only thing I can’t do before I go on stage, is that I have to brush my teeth. I don’t know why. I don’t think I’m close up enough to the audience for them to smell my breath, but I think it just seems to refresh me and get me into the headspace.
What’s next for Ian O’Reilly?
What’s next for Ian O’Reilly, that’s a good question. I’m filming a TV show this summer, which I don’t know if I’m allowed to speak about, so rather than get in trouble, I’m not going to say the name of it. But I just had a costume fitting for that this morning. So yeah, that’s what’s next. Then I have a film coming out either later this year or early next year, called Death Do Us Part. So that’s me.
How would you describe L’elisir d’amore in three words?
I would describe in three words L’elisir d’amore as farcical, fun
and accessible.
You can catch Ian in L’elisir d’amore in the Gaiety Theatre until Saturday 31 May 2025. Tickets are available here.
