Opera troupe wants to attract first-timers

State News/ LINN HAUGESTAD EDVARDSEN Jennifer Gallagher as Dorabella, left; Mike Toth as Don Alfonso; and Rachel Dale as Fiordiligi give it their all during a dress rehearsal for “Cosi Fan Tutte” Tuesday evening at East Lansing High School. The opera opens tonight at 7:30

By CRAIG GAINES

 State News MS&U Writer

 Don’t be afraid, it’s only the opera.

 That’s what members of the Summer Opera Repertory are saying as they get ready for four shows in four days starting today.

 Members from MSU’s School of Music, the Opera Company of Mid-Michigan and students from local high schools will be performing two operas: Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury.”

 Following the performances of the latter, the group will perform highlights from other operas.

 The shows will be held in the auditorium of East Lansing High School, 509 Burcham Dr.

 By using an English script and adding some slapstick humor, artistic director Terry Morris, a graduate student in music performance, is creating what he hopes to be easily accessible performances.

 “I’m not one of those opera snobs who is above a good laugh,” Morris, said.

 “Cosi fan Tutte” is a comedy set in Naples in the 1700s. Two soldiers make a wager with an old bachelor that their fiancees will stay faithful to them. To test their theory, the soldiers pretend to leave for war, and return in disguise.

 The plot then takes some odd twists and ends in a surprise ending that Morris won’t give away.

 “I’m doing something that most directors don’t do with the ending,” Morris said.

 “Trial by Jury,” also a comedy, is set in a courtroom where Angelina is suing Edwin for cheating on her. The judge offers an unorthodox solution to the case — he himself will marry Angelina.

 Since “Trial by Jury” is only 40 minutes long, it will be followed by highlights from other operas, including “Don Giovanni,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “Magic Flute.”

 A chamber orchestra — a piano and string quartet — made up of MSU students and a recent MSU graduate will provide the musical accompaniment.

 Since Morris is working on what he calls “a shoestring budget,” he is using props on stage instead of sets.

 “Everything (on stage) is something that can be picked up,” said Morris, who recently starred in “Sweeney Todd” at the Riverwalk in Lansing. “I want the singers to always be in good singing position.”

 He described “a good singing position” as one where the performer is always facing the audience.

 “By doing things minimally, we can do things far down on the stage,” said Cynthia Douglas, directing manager of the Opera Company of Mid-Michigan. “That way our younger vocals can be heard better.” 

Kenton Barnes, a theory composition and German senior, says the audience should come with the intention of having a good time.

 “There will be a lot of comedy,” said Barnes, who is also a first-year graduate student in choral conducting. “They should expect to be entertained and have a good time.”

 Barnes plays the usher in “Trial by Jury.”

 “I basically tell everyone to shut up,” he said.

 First timers should not be intimidated, said Sarah Hibbard, an incoming vocal performance doctorate student.

 “Opera is about life. It’s stuff that everybody has been through,” said Hibbard.

 Hibbard plays one of the soldier’s fiancees in “Cosi fan Tutte.”

 The opera company and MSU are teaming up for opera in the future as well. In November, they will put on “Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan. At the end of February and beginning of March they will produce Kurt Weill’s “Threepenny Opera.” And in May, the group will put on “Don Pasquale” by Donizetti.

 Tickets for the operas can be purchased at Wharton Center Box Office, 432-2000, and Center for the Arts, 372-0945. Adults pay $10; students, senior citizens and children pay $6.

 “Cosi fan Tutte” is showing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

 “Trial by Jury” and opera highlights is showing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.