Icelandic theater presents opera about Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas

The Icelandic National Theatre staged the opera 27 at its Litla svið stage in Reykjavík.

This production features music by American composer Ricky Ian Gordon and libretto by Canadian poet Rayce Vavrek. The work originally premiered in the United States in 2014. The production focuses on the lives of Gertrude Stein and her partner Alice B. Toklas at their residence at 27 rue de Fleurus in Paris.

During the early 20th century, the couple turned their home into a gallery for contemporary art. The opera gives voices to famous paintings by artists who frequented the home, such as Matisse and Picasso, as well as figures like Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald. It also depicts the relationship between Stein and her brother Leo, who helped collect her art collection before a falling out between the siblings.

The performers utilize a blend of original English text and Icelandic translations displayed on screens. Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir portrays Gertrude Stein while Herdís Anna Jónasdóttir plays Alice. The production explores the survival of the couple through two world wars and the hardships of the era. Director Bjarni Snæbjörnsson and music director Matthildur Anna Gísladóttir coordinated the production to create a cohesive experience where the music and words remain the primary focus.