“Two Boys” was a haunting performance driven by raw talent. Every aspect of the show, from the staging to the singing, delivered a chilling sensation that captivated the audience. The plot, though  disturbing and extremely off-putting, conveyed an incredibly strong message, exemplified all the more by the outstanding showmanship of the cast, crew, and orchestra.

This opera strayed from the traditional, yet its power cannot be denied. The singing was absolutely remarkable. The talent of all the characters was incredible, whether they were a main character, a member of the larger choir, or simply made a brief appearance. The biggest strength of the performance was the soprano end of the spectrum. The young boy who played Jake delivered the most chilling performance of them all, his range was absolutely remarkable, and his altissimo notes made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. However, Brian’s tenor was undeniably powerful also, the pair making the opera embody the haunting and disturbing effect that the plot intended to deliver. The detective’s alto sound fit her role perfectly, her pain and her vibrato simply pierced right through the soul. But these singers, as talented as they were, would be nothing without the orchestra that supported them. The composition and arrangement of the songs set the haunting atmosphere even before the opera began, and carried the mood throughout. The muted trumpets and strings created a dissonance that left the listener uneasy, making them remain at the edge of their seats in anticipation of whatever uncomfortable event would come next.

The music was not the only factor that brought life to this performance. The crew did an incredible job with the staging of this opera. The lights cast a bluish and dim shadow upon the characters, furthering the haunting atmosphere. The screens in the background, showing the chat room conversations, the buildings of the city, and the security camera footage, made this opera incredibly realistic. Each area that was shown in the opera was designated a specific location, and each scene stayed within a certain portion of the stage, making the whole opera appear more contained and manageable to follow. Even the dancers were staged perfectly, always in the background so as to add to, rather than subtract from, the actors’ performances.

The talent in this opera was absolutely outstanding, but the story line itself was incredibly disturbing, and made me very uncomfortable. It was incredibly vulgar and explicitly sexual at times. I left both disturbed and confused, as to why some components needed to be added to this opera. I feel as though the writer went overboard in trying to push the theme. Without the insane talent of the cast and crew, he would never have gotten away with such a vile storyline. The talent is what made the show, not the writing.