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Elixir of Love  spellbinds as Oberlin opera

The Donizetti opera integrates comedy, drama and movement

by Joshua Gindele

Love finally exists at Oberlin. The Oberlin Opera theater department opened the first opera production of the year on Wednesday with The Elixir of Love  by Gaetano Donizetti and produced with the Oberlin Theater and Dance Program.

Acting Director of Opera Theater Steven Daigle rounded up an impressive cast for the opening night, starring Double-degree seniors Keisha Hutchins as Adina, a beautiful and coy landowner and Waldo González as Nemorino, a young peasant who buys a magic elixir in an attempt to win Adina's heart.

Conservatory senior Andrew Nolen plays Dr. Dulcamara, an eccentric salesman selling sham magic potions to unsuspecting yokels, Conservatory senior David Moore plays Sgt. Belcore, a pompous soldier who is also attempting to woo Adina, and Conservatory senior Jane Leacock plays Giannetta, a flirtatious young peasant.

The first thing that stands out in this production is the lack of a curtain: the action begins on stage with the prelude and continues even through intermission, with the performers themselves changing the set for the second act.

The staging is more imaginative than has been seen in recent years, with entrances through the audience and a good deal of interaction between the characters on stage. This proved to be somewhat distracting at times, with the amount of chorus interaction periodically drawing attention away from the principals.

The set itself was visually interesting, especially the large tree in the background that people climbed in and out of during the course of the evening. The lighting was creative in its depiction of the gradual shift from afternoon to evening.

The lead characters gave solid performances in their respective roles. Hutchins filled Hall Auditorium with her stunning voice, which was beautiful if slightly melodramatic, for the role of Adina. While her voice filled the role with grace and beauty, fewer portamenti would have been welcomed. González gave the most consistent performance, solid in both his vocal ability and in his characterization. He gave a particularly striking account of his Act Two aria.

Nolen's rendition of the wily Dr. Dulcamara presented the finest acting of the evening. He tackled the vocal demands of the role with ease, although he was periodically covered by the orchestra. Moore presented Belcore with great conviction and fine singing, notwithstanding a tendency to get slightly behind the beat. Leacock also sang quite well in the small but bothersome role of Giannetta. She gave the role the sauciness it needed, making the best of her few appearances on stage.

The chorus was effective in supporting the action on stage, singing well and attempting to stamp individual characteristics into each role. Standing out were Conservatory senior Kristen Campbell, junior Heather Bowler, Double-degree fifth-year Alissa Rose and junior Erica Salinas as the four solo women, and Double-degree junior Alex Hurd in a cameo as the bumbling notary.

The orchestra pit, though it played well, was very inconsistent. Numerous intonation problems and occasional wrong notes robbed the tuttis of their effectiveness. Nonetheless, the orchestra provided sensitive and subtle accompaniment for the vocalists, under the baton of guest conductor Michael Morgan. Particularly noticeable was the orchestra's exceptional ability to shift tempi rapidly.

Even though this opera might not possess the finest libretto (especially due to this particular English translation), the cast did a fine job in communicating the comedy and gaiety of the score to the audience. They presented a well-sung, well-portrayed rendition of this Italian comic opera.

This cast will be performing again on Saturday. The opera will also be performed on Friday and Sunday with Conservatory juniors Rebecca García as Adina, Limmie Pulliam, Jr., as Nemorino, Double-degree fifth-year Oren Gradus as Dr. Dulcamara, graduate student Thomas Dickenson Seargent Belcore and Conservatory senior Amelia G. Watkins as Gianetta.


Performances are at Hall Auditorium Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 public, $8 seniors/OC staff, $4 OC students and children under 18. Standing room tickets are $2 at the door. Tickets are available through Central Ticket Service.


Photo:
Was your father a thief?: Rebecca Maria Garcia as Adina looks on as junior Limmie Pulliam, who plays Nemorina, works to entice the coy women with a magic potion. (photo courtesy of John Seyfried)


Oberlin

Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 10; November 22, 1996

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