“Tamara” at Quantum

The Pittsburgh Tatler: It’s 1927. You’re in fascist Italy, in the splendid – one might even say, decadent! – villa of the famous poet and war hero Gabriele d’Annunzio (Fermin Suàrez), awaiting the arrival of Polish artiste and bohème supreme Tamara de Lempicka (Megan MacKenzie Lawrence), who is hoping to obtain a commission to paint d’Annunzio’s portrait. You’ve somehow found your way into the oratorio, a music room eclectically decorated with Persian rugs, masks, taxidermied animals, and (of all things) a large coffin. The talented musician Luisa (Robin Abramson) plays piano while the pious, pretty ballerina Carlotta (Cathryn Dylan) practices the dance she hopes will earn her d’Annunzio’s recommendation to Diaghilev, when – ta da! – Tamara arrives.