By Alejandra Sans, Florida Grand Opera Rigoletto is one of Verdi’s most beloved works, not only for its iconic music, which includes the well-known “La donna e mobile,” but also for its twisted tale of revenge. For Florida Grand Opera’s (FGO) production, the company is taking a step further in designing the famous, deformed court jester by outfitting baritone Mark Walters with a realistic, prosthetic hump and makeup to bring the twisted jester to life on stage.

Rather than go the route of the commonly used over-stuffed-pillow costume, FGO embarked on a three-month prosthetic-making process undertaken by Makeup and Wig Designers Chris and Michelle Diamantides. The husband-and-wife team worked closely with the production’s director, Jeffrey Buchman, to conceptualize a look that would make the character’s inner workings all the more accessible to audiences.

“I believe Rigoletto’s deformity is central to who he is,” said Buchman. He goes on to explain his vision for Rigoletto; a man who sees his deformity as a curse, which shaped him into a sharp-tongued fiend in order to survive in a world that would have otherwise destroyed him. This aspect is further explored in Rigoletto’s soliloquy, “Pari siamo,” where he lashes out, saying, “Oh Man, Oh Nature, you made me this vile wicked man … if I am evil, it is your fault alone!”

When asked why he felt it was necessary to go the extra mile and employ movie-makeup to animate this wicked character, Buchman places himself in the audience’s shoes. “As an audience member, I always prefer storytelling that actively draws me in to a deep emotional core,” said Buchman. “If we can know him as a flesh and blood man, I think the audience will connect to him on a deeper level.”

In a video series produced for Florida Grand Opera’s YouTube Channel, the makeup designers take viewers through the steps of the prosthetic-making process – from placing Walters in a full head-to-waist cast to sculpting the hump with clay. Part 2, the latest in a three-part series, delves into the clay-work and design behind the prosthetic in less than 2 minutes. Coming soon, Part 3 will reveal the final prosthetic piece and its first application during the production’s upcoming dress rehearsal.

Rigoletto opens on Saturday, January 28, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County with tickets as low as $11. For more information, visit ww.FGO.org or call the FGO Box Office at (800) 741-1010.

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