I've been seeing a lot of theatre lately and that makes me happy. Tonight was the Next to Normal tour, which opened at the Benedum Center this evening.
I'm not really what to say about the production so I'm going to make a modified venn diagram (my fifth grade teacher will be proud) of some fleeting thoughts in my head.
Things I Liked
Bartender with a heavy hand in the lobby (I gave in and got the sippy cup)* Kevin Adams' lighting design, appropriate use of bumps and fades
Having the orchestra on the levels of the set and fully embracing this fact
Things I Am Unsure About
Gabe's choreography in which he always had to be squatting or leaning
A depressed teenage girl is cured by a hot guy in a blue suit
Does some poor Props guy have to sort all those pills in the bucket by color each show?
Things I Didn't Like
Union stagehands not wearing blacks who appeared on stage during transitions
Alice Ripley's voice, perhaps the worst diction I've ever heard
All sad musicals must have an uplifting flashy number at the end that makes it all okay
Admittedly, I have not been much of an opera fan in my 1/4 century as a theatre patron. Last year, I had the pleasure of working with Pittsburgh Opera on Le Nozze di Figaro in the \spring at the Benedum Center and I got bit by the "opera bug". Tonight I went to see Pittsburgh Opera's production of Turandot. Unlike most opera productions that use a stock set and costumes from a played out production, Pittsburgh Opera joined with 4 other major US companies to co-produce this new version of the show. Pittsburgh had the elite opportunity to premiere the production design and one was left to wonder how the hell they made it fit into the Benedum. The set, designed by Andrew Barbe, was epic and impressive. Some insiders on the production have indicated a lot of work had to be done to it as the pieces were assembled for the first time, but their labors were warranted. The costumes, also designed by Barbe, were equally colorful and impressive.
Sadly, Frank Porretta who played Prince Calaf, was hit hard with allergies an hour before the performance this evening. He valiantly made it through the whole show, although there were clear moments where he was in pain and unable to sustain his notes. The highlight of the evening was NaGuanda Nobles, who played Liu and delivered some gut-wrenching arias and impressive acting (as far as opera goes). She deservedly garnered a full standing ovation during bows.
Unlike my previous performance-related posts, I do not want to say too much about this production because I genuinely think it is one you need to experience for yourself. Pittsburgh Opera offers $10 tickets for students in the first balcony, and I fully encourage anybody in the area who has the opportunity to check it out.
For those of you unable to attend, answer the following three questions or you will be beheaded:
1) What is born each night and dies each dawn?
2) What flickers red and warm like a flame, but is not fire?
3) What is like ice, but burns like fire?
