A Little Light Opera
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 12:55 p.m., April 17, 2008
Updated 12:55 p.m., April 17, 2008
Director Penny Speedie thinks Emporia State University’s production of the famed German operetta “The Merry Widow,” opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Albert Taylor Hall, will be more accessible than the concept many people have in their minds about what the opera is.
For one thing, as an operetta, which has dialogue and set numbers, “The Merry Widow” is more musical theater than a standard opera. Second, this version is in English. Third, it won’t drag on for hours upon hours.
“You know, people think opera, and they think long,” Speedie said. “But we’ve made it more like musical theater, so it’s two and a half hours long.”
This performance of “The Merry Widow” will be the first at ESU in about 10 years. The operetta is set in the “Gay Paris” era of the 1890s. The story features a girl named Anna whose wealthy old husband dies a couple of months after their marriage. Anna had married him only because she had a sick mother, but she was actually in love with Count Danilo. Danilo’s family had sent him away to keep him from Anna because she was beneath him.
“So the whole story is about her coming to get her Count back, and he not wanting to commit that he loves her, because she has money now,” Speedie said. “But in the end, boy and girl get each other, and it’s a happy ending.”
The performance features 22 cast members. Emporia sophomore Cassie Huff will play the lead role, while Hutchinson junior Jeremy Divine will portray the count. The cancan and the waltz will be featured, as will costumes of the time period.
“It’s a good one for students to do, because the roles are not outlandishly difficult vocally,” Speedie said.
Amanda Mayer, Hutchinson sophomore, plays the supporting role of Valencienne, the wife of Baron Zeta. Mayer said performing in “The Merry Widow” was like starting over, because she had to learn new singing techniques other than what she learned in high school. In addition to that, she had to learn how to dance the cancan.
“It is really fun,” she said. “It’s kind of challenging to sing and dance and wear a corset at the same time.”
Mayer said she likes the music of the show and its humor.
“I think a lot of people have this one very ... stereotypical view of opera — ‘Oh, it’s an opera? I’m not gonna go’ — you know, that kind of feeling,” Mayer said. “I was really surprised, because I was one of those who was like, ‘Oh, no thank you.’ But ... this one has spoken dialogue, so it’s really easy to follow.”
The show will continue with another performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. All proceeds raised from ticket sales will go into scholarships for voice training, Speedie said.
Comments
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)