By Regan Carstensen
For those unfamiliar with operas, a stereotypical situation might come to mind — several hours spent listening to unclear lyrics awaiting that ever-so-popular ending.
That won’t be the case for the Minnesota State University production of “Christopher Sly,” and, in fact, director Kimm Julian is promising as much comedy as he can possibly fit into the show.
“It’s a parody. None of it is going to be taken serious,” he said of the production, which opens Thursday in Halling Recital Hall.
Having played the title role of Christopher Sly as a college student in 1976, Julian has been awaiting the opportunity to tackle the production as a director.
“It’s always stuck with me, and I’ve always wanted to do it and haven’t had the chance,” Julian said. “So when I had the cast, I decided that I’d challenge them.”
His cast comes from students taking his opera class this semester, students he thinks will be able to handle the challenges of “Christopher Sly.” The original fall performance this year was scheduled to be “A Night of Opera Scenes,” but Julian couldn’t pass up the chance to put on “Christopher Sly” when the right cast fell into his lap.
“I knew I had three or four voices that would fit the bigger roles.”
While the size of a typical opera cast is about six singers, Julian said “Christopher Sly” provides 14 parts that are all fairly major roles.
The story follows Christopher Sly, a drunken tinker being hunted down by his creditors. Found sleeping off his liquor by a wealthy Lord, Sly is brought to a castle where the Lord convinces him his past life was a dream. The practical joke continues as Sly’s every need is catered to, but when his creditors appear at the castle, Sly catches on to the trick and wants revenge on the devious Lord.
Graduate student Matthew Coffman plays the part of the Lord, whom he describes as a pompous idiot and buffoon with a lot of money and influence. Coffman has played a similar pretentious character in a past opera production, but being used to the role isn’t necessarily making his job easier this time around. The part of the Lord calls for a lot of dramatic tenor, Coffman said, which is a higher role than he normally sings.
Lauren Prine, who plays a seamstress looking to collect money from Sly, is also challenged by the scores in the production.
“It’s the hardest music I’ve ever had to learn in my life,” Prine said.
Hard for the cast to learn, and hard for the Julian to teach.
“It stretches all the tonalities,” he said. “It’s got memorable tunes, but they’re hard to find.”
Not only is Julian directing, but he’ll be conducting an orchestra during the performance, adding to the already demanding production. Since Halling Recital Hall has no orchestra pit, the musicians will share the stage with the singers, cutting down on space.
The addition of the orchestra, the shorter, 80-minute length and the fact that it’s a 20th century piece all help separate “Christopher Sly” from the typical, mainstream opera productions generally performed at MSU, Julian said.
If You Go
What
Minnesota State University’s opera production of “Christopher Sly”
When
7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where
Halling Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, MSU
Admission
$9 general admission, $6 for students K-12, children and MSU students with a valid MavCard
Information
For more information, call 389-5549.
