The Divorce is an Australian comedy opera miniseries which was broadcast on ABC TV on four successive nights from 7 to 10 December 2015. The four-part series is written by Joanna Murray-Smith with music by Elena Kats-Chernin. Based on an original idea by Lyndon Terracini, it was developed by Opera Australia and directed for television by Dean Murphy. Outside filming took place at Werribee Park Mansion west of Melbourne."The Divorce is a comedic opera, and unlike anything else on Australian TV" by Paul Kulina, The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 2015 The work was shown again in 2017 in a single 95-minute broadcast on Sky Arts and ABC TV.
Plot Wealthy couple Iris (Marina Prior) and art critic Jed (John O'May) are happily getting a divorce and throwing an elaborate party. By the end of the evening, Iris and Jed's divorce has triggered a renegotiation of all certainties and the characters are set on an unanticipated course. Louise (Lisa McCune), the younger sister of Iris is secretly in love with art critic Jed. Toby (Hugh Sheridan) is an aspiring artist, hired to work as a waiter at the party. William () is Iris' young and handsome lover, an accountant who lacks charisma. Caroline (Kate Miller-Heidke) is Jed and Iris' personal assistant who is in trouble with loan sharks Alfie and Ludo. Patrick (Peter Cousens) and Ellen (Melissa Madden Gray) are the best friends of Jed and Iris.TV Week, 5–11 December 2015
Cast Lisa McCune as Louise Marina Prior as Iris Hugh Sheridan as Toby Kate Miller-Heidke as Caroline John O'May as Jed as William Peter Cousens as Patrick Melissa Madden Gray as Ellen Christopher Kirby as Dre Bob Franklin as Alfie, a loan shark Jane Allsop as police officer Dom Phelan as Ludo, a loan shark Nick Capper, the courier
Soundtrack
Universal Music Australia partnered with the production company, Princess Pictures, to release the soundtrack to The Divorce., Cat. 4784394 Elena Kats-Chernin's score was nominated for the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score in Television and for ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album at the 2016 ARIA Music Awards.ARIA Award previous winners.
Track listing Overture Goodbye My Love – Marina Prior, John O'May They Had Perfection – Chorus Chilling Champagne – Kate Miller-Heidke Greetings – Chorus Other Ships – Marina Prior, Kate Miller-Heidke Love and Fear – Melissa Madden Gray, Peter Cousens Cosmopolitan Penguin – Hugh Sheridan, Hugh Sheridan Tick Tock – Lisa McCune Have you Lost All Love for Jed – Lisa McCune, Marina Prior Sister, Sister – Lisa McCune Company, Canapés, Drinks – Chorus Love Love Bitter – Chorus At Last – Lisa McCune Dismemberment – Kate Miller Heidke, Matthew MacFarlane Appetites – Kate Miller-Heidke Old Friend, Congratulations – Melissa Madden Gray, Peter Cousens The Proposal – Marina Prior Cradle Snatchers – Chorus What's Going On, What Did She Say – Chorus No More Notes/I Cannot Wait – Lisa McCune What's Going On With Caroline – Chorus Grizzly Remains – Kate Miller-Heidke I've Told Lou – John O'May The Way the Light Plays – Lisa McCune, Hugh Sheridan As a Child – Matthew MacFarlane The Key – Melissa Madden Gray, Matthew MacFarlane The Waiter – Lisa McCune No Gentle Way – Lisa McCune Hail Jehovah! – Melissa Madden Gray, Peter Cousens, Matthew MacFarlene, Marina Prior, Lisa McCune, Kate Miller-Heidke, Hugh Sheridan, Chorus The Fitting Glove – Hugh Sheridan A Charismatic Force – Marina Prior, John O'May You Laughed, You Kissed – Chorus
References
External links The Divorce, production details The Divorce, ABC TV "The Divorce: Putting the Opera into the Soap" by Andrew Aronowicz, Limelight, 1 December 2015
"It's TV! It's opera! What to make of ABC's The Divorce", review by Michael Halliwell, The Conversation, 9 December 2015