Opera--Review (UL-Lafayette Opera Theatre)

OPERA WITHOUT TEARS

ULL Opera Theatre presents Too Many Sopranos, an opera buffa with music by Edwin Penhorwood and libretto by Miki L. Thompson under the direction of Shawn Roy.

Opera isn't always serious.  There is a long tradition of comic--sometimes outrageously comic--opera written by greater and lesser composers.  Composers want to turn a buck and pack the house and, believe it or not, most singers have a pretty good sense of humor.  This opera has some heavy-hitting fans among stars of the opera world.  When no one is looking, they like to knock back a few cold ones and do impressions of each other.  Actually, who doesn't?

If you could imagine the writing team of any season of Saturday Night Live! having a go at the shadow operas (fake opera portions which were inserted into musicals about opera stars) of the thirties and forties with a cast composed of Tina Feys and Steve Carrells who are trained singers, you have an idea of what Too Many Sopranos is like.  It gleefully pokes fun at the world of opera with slapstick action, a melodious score which gently satirizes several composers and caricatures of operatic situations and personalities.  In other words, its primary aim is to make you laugh, whether or not you know anything about opera.

In brief, four sopranos are told that three of them must be sent to Hell until there are enough tenors to balance them out in the Heavenly Choir.  Since sopranos and tenors are natural enemies, this presents problems.  As it happens, Hell has an overabundance of tenors, however; so the girls, along with St. Peter and Gabriel go off on a fishing expedition.

This is a perfect student production in two senses.  In the first place, the music is well within the capabilities of a vocal student not yet ready for the Met but headed in that direction and in the second place student audiences will find the show tuneful and approachable.  I think even young children will follow the plot and enjoy the production.

Director Shawn Roy has a commitment to entertaining his audience and his cast is energetic and silly.  The targets include Hollywood figures with caricatures of Nelson Eddy and Jeannette MacDonald and Orson Welles.  Enrico Caruso makes a guest appearance and so does the thankless Bass character singer.  The divas represent Classical, Wagnerian and Romantic Era singers and you could pick your own real-life divas as the models.  Each of the singers is a beacon of narcissism except for the sweet young couple of Just Jeannette and Nelson Deadly whose selfless love saves everyone's bacon.

The show looks good with an impressive set by Duncan Thistlethwaite which goes from Heaven in the first act to Hell in the second act through clever lighting and painting.  Ken Harrelson's lighting is atmospheric and the costuming neatly separates the different singers by period and personality.  The action moves at a crisp pace and the performers sing and speak clearly enough to put all the jokes across.  The two musicians lend able support.  The show is fast, too--under two hours including intermission.  

Admission is ten dollars general admission but free for ULL faculty, staff and students.  It is money well spent.
---Walter Brown