First Nighter: Michael Mayer's Casually Histrionic Take on Verdi's "Rigoletto" Back at the Met

Michael Mayer's updating Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto in a more or less contemporary Las Vegas setting of Christine Jones's devising--with neon galore that lighting designer Kevin Adams has fun with (particularly during the stormy fourth act)--lends the histrionic drama an alluring air of 21st-century off-handedness. For instance, when the Duke (Stephen Costello in costume designer Susan Hilferty's white tuxedo) opens proceedings with "Questa o quella," that description of his relationship with th...