Category Archives: Theater

Opera Performance at LeFrak (Extra Credit)

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On Friday, November 18, the LeFrack Concert Hall showcased two stunning performances, Debussy’s “La Damoiselle Élue”and Puccini’s “Suor Angelica.”

The first piece which was translated from French featured the talented orchestra, women’s choir, a female narrator, and soloist (acting as “La Damoiselle”).  Based on Dante Gabriel Rosett’s poem, the piece focuses on a lamenting damsel longing to be reunified with her aficionado.  Unfortunately, their separation continues throughout the entire performance as his mortal existence on earth continues.  Regarding the actual performance, the orchestra and choir beautifully played off each other while complimenting the soloists.  Unfortunately, the only aspect which distracted from the performance was the orchestra’s dominance during certain parts of the solo, causing the listener to miss a line or two.  This was especially due to the close proximity of the players to the vocalists.  Nevertheless, the soloists confidently projected their brilliant voices with aptitude enough for the audience to thoroughly enjoy the show.

 

“Suor Angelica” featured Franesca Lunghi (who gave us a sneak preview in class) as La Zia Principessa, Angelica’s callous aunt.  Suor Angelica, of whom the plot revolves around, was sent to a convent after giving birth to an illegitimate child.  Seven years later, her aunt brings news of Angelica’s sister’s engagement and the death of  her child.  Angelica eventually responds with suicide, only to remember during the process that suicide is sin.   She begs the Madonna for forgiveness, which is in turn granted.

The opera seria, strengthened by an intense acting performance, truly compelled the watcher to sympathize with Sister Angelica.  The heartfelt cry of the mother sprawling on the floor juxtaposed the cold-hearted, harsh stance of the aunt facing away from her.  Furthermore, the orchestra appropriately utilized contrasting crescendos and decrescendo during shifts from Angelica’s anticipation, to despair, and eventually hope.  Fortunately, throughout the performance the strength of orchestra never overpowered the vocalists, further adding to the professionalism of the production.

The last showcase of these two productions will be on Saturday November 19, 2011.

 

Suor Angelica (vs. Don Giovanni)

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Going to see Don Giovanni was a new experience for me.  Never had I been to an opera, but now I have been to two!  As I sat in LeFrak Concert Hall tonight, I couldn’t help but compare the two operas.  The stage set-up for Suor Angelica particularly caught my attention; the orchestra was right on the stage taking up most of the space, and there really wasn’t much of a set to create a convent (where the opera takes place).  The orchestra for Don Giovanni was away in a pit, almost no where to be seen (at least from my seat).  While this was most likely done due to a lack of space, I found it very enjoyable, because it added to the emotions of the actors.  The music itself does this, but seeing the musicians increase the speed of their movements added to the effect.

Suor Angelica is about a woman, Sister Angelica, who had been forced into a convent seven years ago for giving birth to a child out of wedlock.  She finds out from her aunt, the Principessa (who is played by the woman, Francesca Lunghi, who came in to our class to sing her aria for us), that her son had died two years ago.  Sister Angelica then drinks a poison in order to kill herself and go to heaven to see her son.  She realizes last minute that committing suicide is a sin and would keep her from heaven, so she cries out for salvation.  During the part when Sister Angelica finds out that her son is dead, she falls over in tears and the Principessa is still as if to put the focus on the orchestra which is moving violently as the music speeds up and gets louder. This climax was definitely my favorite scene because I was able to see the orchestra as a part of it. Furthermore, even though there wasn’t a big stage set, the costumes were very realistic and effective, and lights were put to excellent use in creating the effects of glass windows in the chapel.

In the end, Sister Angelica is forgiven and allowed to go to heaven with her son.  Just like in Don Giovanni, there is an arguably happy ending.  Sister Angelica dies, but she is with her son;  Don Giovanni ruined many lives, but he does die.  Lastly, in both operas, a higher being comes to judge the vulnerable people.

I enjoyed both operas very much! It was pretty cool that Suor Angelica was being performed right on our campus.

Wolverine: The Musical?

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You probably know Hugh Jackman as the angry mutant amnesiac they call Wolverine from the X-Men franchise. Or maybe as the monster hunting Van Helsing. Or perhaps you’ve heard of him as a magician in a homicidal feud with Christian Bale in The Prestige. What you probably don’t know is that this rough and tough actor also has very impressive musical career.

Hugh Jackman starred in a fantastic Broadway musical called The Boy from Oz, for which he received a Tony Award for his performance as singer/songwriter Peter Allen, as well as in the London Cast Revival of Oklahoma! On top of that, he hosted the Tony Awards three times and attempted to produce a failed musical TV show called Viva Laughlin (it wasn’t very good, but it’s the thought that counts.) With all of these musicals, its a wonder how he finds time to make movies.

Currently, Mr. Jackman is back on Broadway, in a concert show simply titled  “Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway.” Like his previous Broadway show, it is being praised by critics (including this rather gushing review), and if there is anything I can do to convince you to see this show, I will do it. I saw The Boy from Oz a while back and I can tell you how fantastic he was in both his acting and his singing. The only thing that should be keeping you from going to see this show is that due to the high demand of tickets, seats are very expensive.

Hugh Jackman is an excellent example of a lost form of actor. Back in the day, the best actors were all singers and dancers. There was a performance aspect to acting which is lost these days. People like Danny Kaye, Dick Van Dyke, and even Gene Wilder are just some of the actors who were also great performers. It’s a shame that this sort of actor is rarely seen today.

But not all is lost. Hugh Jackman may be an indicator of a new trend of performance actors. Sitcom stars Jason Segal and Neil Patrick Harris have both been seen singing and dancing in different productions, with Jason Segal coming out with his Muppet movie next week and Neil Patrick Harris having hosted the Tony Awards last year. In fact, he did an excellent duet with Hugh Jackman during his performance. Here’s to hoping that this is a true revival of a forgotten trade and not just a fad that will pass.

Here’s a link to the official site of “Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway.”

Don Giovanni vs. Chinese Opera

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When I was little, I didn’t like watching Chinese Opera at all. I went to the Community Hall(where the opera was performed) with family and my cousins. We kids just went there for fun and free candies or snacks (the person who invited the actors will provide the audiences with candies or snacks) and sneaked to the backstage to watch the actors doing their makeup or appreciating the Kung Fu part of the opera. I also got some view of Western Opera on TV when I was young. I felt the singing actors are like monsters who are making annoying sounds.

After I grow up, I increasingly start appreciating Opera, both Western and Chinese Opera. They are both non-physical cultural treasures of their nations. I was actually very excited when we were going to watch Don Giovanni together. I’ve heard that some people would dress up when they went to a Opera, but I also thought that there must be some people wear jeans and informal shirts. So, I didn’t wear a suit and I didn’t feel comfortable with suit as well. I was a little surprised when I arrived at the theater and saw all people dressing so formally. In contrast, Chinese Opera comes from the folk and it’s for all people. Therefore, We don’t have to dress formally for watching an opera.

Talking about the Don Giovanni we watched, I really like the fancy theater, the stage and the props. The flame part when Don Giovanni was dragged down into the hell was also my favorite. That exhibits how technology contributes to the performance of art and create spectacular effect. Also, the cooperation between the actors and the orchestra is remarkably admirable. They collaborate flawlessly and seamlessly. However, I doubt if the building present on the stage is proper for the aristocrats. It looked, to me, more like peasants’ house. The fight between Don Giovanni and Commendatore was so short and not wonderful at all. If you would like to watch exciting fighting scene, I recommend you Chinese opera.

Compare to Western opera, Chinese opera has fancier makeup(or mask), more actions, and smaller orchestra. The masks are essence of Chinese opera. The masks represent the personality of the characters. There are distinctions between the masks of bad guys, comic guys and good guys. Chinese opera usually involves many actions which make it more animated. It require the actors to have many years of training and techniques. “10 minutes’ performance on the stage requires 10 years’ work behind the stage.”The orchestra for Chinese Opera is relatively small. The orchestra is on the backstage. The instruments include flute, Erhu, drum, gong and so on.

Besides so many differences, Western opera and Chinese opera also have something in common. The singing is not understandable to many audiences, so there are also subtitles for them. Also, both opera are not popular among young people. Less and less teens like opera, which may cause the problem of preservation of the precious traditional culture.

This short video shows more about the actions in Chinese Opera. This is about the tale of Monkey King.

The second video shows more about the singing part in Chinese Opera.

If you are not interested in the previous ones, you must watch the following one.This is called “face-changing”(literally translated), a special skill in Chuang opera ( a regional branch of Chinese opera).

Absurdism

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Recently, I read “The Stranger” by Albert Camus.  The novel is considered one of the major accomplishments of the absurd movement and sometimes the existentialists.  .  The movement started with World War Two, and became more popular towards the middle of the century.  “The Stranger” is about a Frenchman living in Algier although he does not appear to fit in to his culture.  The novel opens with the main character, Meursault, stating that his mother died.  He shows no emotion, and goes through the funeral without ay signs of grief.  Then, he moves on with his life and starts a relationship with a woman the following day.  Later on in the novel, Meursault kills a man for no apparent reason.  As he says, he was annoyed by the sun and the heat.

I do not want to ruin the novel for anyone who wishes to read it, as i think it is extremely worthwhile.  I became interested in the absurd movement as soon as we saw “The Bald Soprano.”  When we read it in class, I was annoyed by the apparent randomness and silliness of the play.  After understanding the meaning behind Ionesco’s words, the play became fascinating.  The absurd movement as well.  It is hard to imagine how people were feeling after the war, and the total destruction of millions of people and countries.  This is the expression of the survivors.  It shows the world the psyche of the times, better than movies or photographs.  Through Ionesco, and Camus we see the feelings and emotions that the survivors of the war were feeling.  I think that is an incredible accomplishment for the absurdists.

Don Giovanni vs. Cenerentola

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Last year, I went to see Cenerentola, a small opera production, depicting the story of Cinderella. “Cenerentola” means Cinderella in Italian. The venue was seedy at best, but I had never been to an opera and thought that the story of Cinderella was one of the less intimidating operas for a first-time goer. I was right. I found out that opera was not my favorite style of singing and that I could go on with my life without it, but I loved the staging. The characters were extremely animated and the set was simple yet well done. I think that the stage direction in an opera is very important because most of the time, it’s hard to understand what’s taking place unless the story is already familiar. I tried my best to translate the frenzied Italian in both Cenerentola and Don Giovanni, but even my mother, a native Italian, says it’s hard to fully understand everything the actors are singing. With the importance of stage direction in mind, I did not enjoy Don Giovanni as much as Cenerentola. And it wasn’t the plot that turned me off because I thought that libretto to be amusing and suspenseful. I think it’s safe to point my fingers at the lack of stage direction. The set was lavish and impressive, but for me, it wasn’t entertaining to watch the actors stand still, belting plot that I couldn’t understand without the translator. At times, I found myself mesmerized by the tiny screen in front of me instead of the talented actors who worked so hard to command my attention.

To take the plunge or not?

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A new production called “Queen of the Mist” opened on Sunday night at the Gym at Judson. This musical tells the unique story of Anna Edson Taylor, who more than a century ago made her name known to the world by going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. In two acts, it documents her escapades leading up to the big plunge and the “years of anticlimax” following. This is one of many biographical plays that have appeared over the years—most recently, there was “The Mountaintop,” which depicted Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night on Earth and which Carlsky was kind enough to blog about back in early October. From what this article in the arts section of the New York Times says about “Queen of the Mist,” though, I don’t think it’ll be winning as many awards as “The Mountaintop” (if any); however, I’m sure anyone who really, really wants to know more about the woman “obsessed with taking the plunge” (and the plunge itself) and can’t be bothered with reading the short Wikipedia page will enjoy listening to Mary Testa (who plays Taylor) singing about it… or not. Biographical musicals aren’t really my cup of tea, especially if they don’t offer any new insights into the lives of the people they are meant to depict, but I’m open to hearing what other people think.

Spiderman the musical

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Spiderman the musical has been a roller coaster in terms of production. It costs double the price of a normal broadway play. It also had a long bring of injuries and a seemingly endless period of previews. Most broadway shows have a month of preview shows. Spiderman the musical had six months of previews. The list of issues that the play faced does not end there; Early reviews for the musical were quite negative, and the artistic disagreements between the director and her fellow creators and new producers were so sharp, that she was fired from the show. The original director, Julie Taymor may have appeared for opening night with a happy face, but she was furious. She is currently legally pursuing $500,000 dollars in royalties she believes she is owed. I found this musical to be a such a stark contrast to Don Giovanni, the opera we are about to see. Spiderman uses lots of cables and modern technology for effects; Don Giovanni uses none. Spiderman’s composers are Bono and the Edge of U2, instead of an orchestra like Don Giovanni. It’s unlikely to happen, but a seeing a more modern musical would provide excellent context for discussion after seeing Don Giovanni. The article on Spiderman can be found here.

Seminar

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Last night, I saw Seminar:  a new Broadway production starring Alan Rickman (aka Professor Snape).  The production was written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Sam Gold.  The production is still in previews, so last night was one of the first shows that an audience has seen.  It opened to the public on October 27th and is being performed at the Golden Theather.

Alan Rickman stars as an acclaimed, eccentric, sometimes damaging fiction editor, who was hired by four aspiring writers to critique their work.  Each of the writers react differently to Alan Rickman’s harsh criticism. Some of writers nowadays resent the criticism, while others take Rickman’s advice to heart.  The audience sees the difficulties that modern writers need to overcome in order to publish.

In terms of setting, the play reminded me of the Bald Soprano by Ionesco.  The play takes place in an apartment on the West Side.  It is not meant to be an action packed play.  The play centers around their meetings, and their conversation.  It also reminded me about the Bald Soprano because of the emphasis on language.  Whereas the Bald Soprano turned language into absurd, Seminar emphasized the importance of language.

As the perfect ending to a great night, I met Alan Rickman outside the theater and he signed the playbill.  Everyone should see Seminar if you enjoy Broadway. Here is the Link

Emily Bergl, Movie and TV Star, Comes To Queens College

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This past Wednesday, Queens College Theater Guild was privileged to bring the acclaimed actress Emily Bergl to Queens College. She has performed in various films, most notably “The Rage: Carrie 2”, performed in the Broadway play “The Lion in Winter”, appeared in various TV shows including “Gilmore Girls” and “Desperate Housewives”, and has recently begun performing cabaret. During her appearance, she performed two cabaret pieces. The first one, whose name I forget, was a slow, pained song of a young girl, while the second piece was an original song she and her piano accompanist Jonathan Mastro are working on. I enjoyed both pieces very much. It was quickly apparent to me that Emily is an actress. She is excellent not only at singing, but also personifying the character who is singing the song, such as the pained girl of the first song who is angry at the world. In the Q&A session after her performance, Emily told us that when she performs a commonly-performed piece, she thinks about it constantly, listens to all the different versions of the song, reviews the lyrics, and injects her own perspective into the pieces she sings. Much of modern art is this idea of an artist putting his or her perspective into their work, which is key in creating good art. Emily is an excellent example of this.

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The Art of Letting Go

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“‘Singers are a little bit more careful now,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why. Maybe they fear reactions. Maybe they fear someone will say, “This is too much.” You have to forget everything about it not being beautiful enough and just do it…You have to forget yourself. I don’t lose control when I conduct, but I try to get into the scene and into the moment, into the action. I try to really let go, so it’s no more about technique or dictating, it’s about letting it happen.’” – from the New York Times article “‘Giovanni’ as Snapshot of a New Met.”

Even though we read this article a few weeks ago, this portion really inspires me because it can easily be applied to so much more than the creation of opera.  (I wonder if Mr. Luisi realizes that).  Although the concept is pretty abstract, this quotation applies to living artfully, as well.  A lot of times, we tend to refrain from doing things or pursuing certain dreams because, deep down, we are afraid of others’ reactions; but, according to Mr. Luisi, we simply have to let that go.

Just before this section of the article, the reporter says that Mr. Luisi believes that “there is a fine line between thorough rehearsing and overpreparation.”  Sometimes in life, we think we need to keep preparing for a certain opportunity when, really, we just need to step out and act, irregardless of what others may say.  What would happen if every actor and singer in the opera felt this tremendous pressure to always have everything perfect before performing in front of an audience?  Would they actually ever end up performing, or would they always be rehearsing?  As long as we put our best into what we are doing, the opinions of others should not weigh so heavily on us. Que será, será.

The Other Dons

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As humans, no two athletes, actors, or dancers perform exactly alike.  Even when presenting the same role, two similar actors produce two profoundly different atmospheres, resonating into an entirely different experience for the viewer.  When Peter Mattei was called in by Director Michael
Grandage to fill in for the injured baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, the Met gave birth to another Don Giovanni.  As a last minute substitute, Mettei delivered stellar performances, comparable to Kweicien’s, (which we will see Nov 7) now that he is back on his feet.  Each performer, with different styles, present two different sides of the same character.  Mattei, towering at 6′ 4” was a more brash, unrestrained Don, while Kwiecien presents a furtive Giovanni unsatisfied with those around him, merely looking for excitement and stimulation.

One critic even noted the effect of each actor’s height in relation to Leporello.  Kwiecien is a Don Giovanni who a bit shorter than his servant, while Mattei towered over his, providing alternatives to the way each found ways to assert their authority and desires.

Of course, the director also makes all the difference.  After reviewing several critics’ opinion regarding recent New York productions of this famous opera, Grangade’s version has been described as a more traditional one when compared to Christopher Alden’s 2009 radically “sexy, modern production.”  However, Grandage’s version is beautifully supplemented by Fabio Luisi’s skillful musical direction, as he heavily involves himself in the performance by providing accompaniments on the harpsichord, controlling the flow of the entire show.  It will be an exciting performance to watch in two weeks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/arts/music/mariusz-kwiecien-on-the-mend-for-don-giovanni-at-the-met.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/arts/music/don-giovanni-at-the-metropolitan-opera-review.html?ref=arts

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/arts/music/mariusz-kwiecien-in-don-giovanni-at-the-met-review.html?ref=arts

VocaPeople

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My friends and I were lucky enough to attain student rush tickets for VocaPeople for only $5.00 each. In the end, the show was well worth more than what we paid for.

The show was about eight aliens that landed in New York City from their home planet of Voca. Throughout the entire show, they try to give their rocket energy to return home by making music. All the music was a cappella and they sung a huge variety of songs from classics to oldies to movie soundtracks to current and popular house music all with only their voices and mouths to make sounds that sounded like instruments.

I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing while I was watching this cute little interactive show which I wasn’t expecting. They even made Rosie get up and she became part of the show! The overall feel of this comedic musical was comfortable and silly. It was meant to make you feel good and enjoy the show as it was. It was perfect for all age groups although, there were some parts that seemed not age appropriate for younger kids. But, I realized after that the kids wouldn’t have understood anyway.

Along with being in all white which made them look more comical, the VocaPeople each had their distinct funny traits that went with their voice types or “beatboxing” style. The characters ranged from lead beatboxer, Scratcher, who did just that, made scratching record sounds and the likes to, Bass, who had one of the lowest ranges I’ve ever heard in my life! It was amazing.

I recommend it to everyone! It’s a cute and feel-good show that will leave you humming and singing some of their catchy tunes on your commute back home.

JoBro Joins Broadway for Fans in February

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Nick Jonas, known as the lead singer and songwriter for the pop rock band, Jonas Brothers, has been recruited to be the new spokesperson for Kids’ Night on Broadway this coming February. Having experience in the Broadway scene (no pun intended) and being a favorite for young fans made him the perfect candidate for the job; which involves getting kids and adolescence (6-18 yr olds- yes, that includes us), alike, to come to Broadway shows during the dry season in February by being able to see shows for free with an adult who purchased a ticket. He will also be replacing Daniel Radcliffe’s role in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in late January, which will also bring more audience members for that specific show.

What’s even more amazing, besides Nick Jonas (sorry for my fan-girl sappiness) and free tickets, is that most Broadway shows are participating in this event including the popular (and expensive) shows such as The Lion King, and Wicked. This seems really interesting and will probably really effective in their cause to get more people (with the target at kids) to attend more Broadway shows. I will definitely try to see Wicked during this time, which has been on my “Broadway” bucket list for a LONG time!

I recommend all of us take advantage of this amazing opportunity and be on the look-out for these deals early next year!

To see more Click here!

The Mountaintop

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Have you ever wondered how great men of history, snatched from this world prematurely, spent their last days?  Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel, located in Memphis, Tennessee was the location where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the inspirational civil rights activist rested on April 3, 1968, the day before his assassination.

From now until January 15, 2012 the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater on Broadway will recreate this night in an hour and half intermission-less play.  Already a success in England, it won the 2010 Oliver Award for “best new play.”  Phenomenal actors Angela Bassett (motel maid) and Samuel L. Jackson (Dr.King), come together for a moving performance.   The story begins as Dr. King returns to his room on a stormy night after delivers his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,”  speech at Mason Temple, and follows a both political and biographical conversation.  The author argues the point of the play was an attempt by Ms. Hall, the director, to provide viewers’ with a more wholesome perspective of exceptional men of history.  We must realistically view those idolized as humans-just like us.

Both actors, including Jackson who generally performs in films, were said to have delivered skillful performances.  Be sure to be on the lookout for potential awards for this production.