Flanked by sparsely-placed screens, plants, and two large black partitions, a massive, circular, two-tiered bench holds center stage in McNamara Rehearsal Hall. Nine men fill the stage with more black, red, and gold, wearing red scarves wrapped around black kimonos. Welcome to Titipu.
This year’s Opera Workshop presents a full operatic production, Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” also known as “The Town of Titipu.” Their opening night is Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m., with a show Saturday, Feb. 15 also at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m.
The play focuses on Gilbert and Sullivan’s representation of a typical Japanese town, a backdrop for the biting social commentary of the playwrights’ contemporary British culture. It revolves around Ko-Ko, played by senior Aaron Sandford, who is condemned to death for flirting –– recently declared a capital crime. As a prisoner, Ko-Ko receives the title of “Grand High Executioner” from the Mikado, the emperor of Japan, and when he is released he grows in political power. Then arrives Yum-Yum, played by junior Claire Ziegler, who is Ko-Ko’s ward and love interest, though she is in love with another, Nanki-Poo, a young minstrel.
The comic opera devolves from there into a convoluted, twisting plot, complete with love triangles, faked suicides, and hidden identities. The whole production has been directed, organized, and choreographed by students, as well as many of the prop and costume materials brought together by the students involved.
“It’s really cool to see how everyone pitches in and helps to create a real theatrical environment on stage,” said junior Maran McLeod, the director of choreography and rehearsal coach. “Aaron has been working on this bench which will be the central piece to the stage, and we have some screens. Everyone’s creativity has really been sparked by limited resources.”
Though the Opera Workshop program originates in and depends upon the support of the music department, this year’s production has come about as collaborative effort of the music, theatre, and dance departments to pull together the costumes, choreography, singing, and the set itself.
“This year things are really coming together well,” said David Krueger, senior and student director who also plays the part of Poo-bah. “The costumes are pretty simple, and and we have a lot of faculty support. [Adjunct Music Faculty] Cynthian Knight has been doing a lot of our women’s chorus stuff, Kristi Matson is our prop mistress, [senior] Audrey Gray is doing the costumes, predominantly, [Music Teacher] Melissa Osmund been working with our vocals, and more.”
As in past years, the workshop is rife with musical talent, and leads and choruses alike are full of strong voices and great talent, McLeod said. The main obstacle has been the choreography, which requires repetition to master.
“I’m really impressed by what I’ve seen the last few rehearsals because it’s all coming together,” McLeod said. “They are learning to be comfortable on stage and use their whole instrument there.”
Opera Workshop also allows students who are involved in choir and voice lessons, many of whom have a background in theater, to perform. One such person is junior Devin Creed, who is in the men’s chorus.
“One of the best parts is I got to meet a bunch of people I wouldn’t have otherwise, and it’s been really fun,” he said. “I was sort of just added to the email list without my consent and went with it. I didn’t really think it was a big commitment, and I did ‘Mikado’ in the sixth grade and really liked it. I guess that’s why I’m here.”
Tickets are available for free at the Sage Box office, but seats are filling up fast. The show will be in McNamara Rehearsal Hall in the Howard Music Building.
“It’s a play so convoluted that you just can’t take it all in at once,” McLeod said. “People want to see it again because you just keep getting more out of it.”
