Once upon a time at 麻豆传媒 . . .聽
. . .聽Fountain School of Performing Arts students brought audiences a light and comedic escape into the storybook world of fairies, magic slippers, and . . . disgruntled box-office attendants?
DalOpera's latest production brings Pauline Viardot鈥檚 version of the classic fairytale聽Cinderella聽as well as a contemporary mini opera called The Box Office to life.
The students' take on these two hilarious and hopeful operas runs Nov. 28-30聽at 7:30 p.m. in the Sir James Dunn Theatre, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee performance on Dec. 1.聽
Written by Canadian composer Bekah Simms, The Box Office depicts a conversation between a box-office attendant and a pestering customer looking to book a night out at the opera. The short contemporary piece differs greatly in both story and musical style from Viardot鈥檚 Cinderella, which was composed as a salon opera in 1904.聽
Voice students Naomi Sney, left, as the attendant and Emma Thorton-Ockrant as the customer in The Box Office.
Expanding range
For director Robyn Cathcart, staging these two contrasting stories together will make the performance more engaging for audience members, even those new to opera.聽
He says it also benefits cast members as both a performance and a learning experience.聽
鈥淚t was important to give our budding performers the opportunity to sing radically different types of music and characters,鈥� says Cathcart.
Viardot鈥檚 original piece was composed entirely in French, but this version will include sung French lyrics and spoken dialogue in English, allowing audience members to follow the story more comfortably while allowing the original music to flourish.
Katherine Alexander as ball guest Betty, left, and Victoria Dubois as Magelonne with Corinne James as Baron de Pictordu.
Grounded in relationships
Both operas include many comedic elements while remaining grounded in fleshed-out relationships between characters.聽
Voice student Karina Matys, who sings the title character of Cinderella, attributes this in part to Cathcart鈥檚 musical theatre background.聽
鈥淗e is infusing his musical theatre brain and creativity into it,鈥� says Matys. 鈥淩obyn has really created some depth in the characters.鈥�
Emma Thornton-Ockrant, a voice student in her final year also singing for Cinderella, appreciates the nuanced female relationships present in Viardot鈥檚 version of Cinderella, compared to versions by better known composers.聽
Raphaelia Bokolas as Amelinde with ball guests.
Fellow performer Sophia Maskine recognizes the significance of telling Viardot鈥檚 version of the story: 鈥淲e鈥檙e doing two female composers鈥� shows and that鈥檚 really rare to find in classical music,鈥� Maskine says.
Storybook staging聽
Set designer Katrin Whitehead created a design for the show that technical theatre students are hard at work bringing to life. The design team is using 14th- to 16th-century etchings as inspiration to bring the fantastical story into the real world.聽
鈥淚 really enjoy the storybook reimagining of it,鈥� says Tess Kotsibie, a fourth-year technical theatre student and head of props. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting to see a 2D object become 3D.鈥�
Karina Matys as Cendrillon, left, and Sophia Maskine as F茅e.
Brianne Smith-Vetter, a second-year student on the scenic paint crew, is charge of creating the vibrant and geometric ballroom floor. She finds fulfilment in seeing her work as a part of the larger whole of the set design.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so fun to see it from on the model and then actually come to life, knowing that you did that,鈥� she says.聽聽
The creative learning environments across all Fountain School departments involved in the opera create a sense of community.聽
Cathcart values the unique experience of directing a production that heavily relies on the contributions of students who are in the beginning of their careers.聽
鈥淚 am constantly reminded of the potential, hope, zest and excitement that comes with a life in the theatre,鈥� he says. 鈥淣o matter the genre, young artists bring fresh ideas, new ways of thinking about the world, and unique ways of creating."
Corinne James as Baron de Pictordu, left, with Elizabeth Ruxton as Comte Barigoule.