Skylark Opera is to be applauded for trying to expand its audience beyond aficionados of operetta by staging a diverse summer festival, pairing Victor Herbert's classic "Naughty Marietta" with the area premiere of Ned Rorem's 2006-premiered "Our Town," based on Thornton Wilder's play. Ambitions aside, the company is on firmer artistic footing with the Herbert.
Much anticipated, "Our Town" proved ultimately to be a disappointment. It is what I call a "why" opera. Why put music to a masterpiece that is beautiful and moving in its own right when you can't enhance it in some way? My primary reaction at the end of the evening was to want to run home and reread the play.
A case could be made that the work is ill-suited to musical treatment. Librettist J.D. McClatchy made a fundamental mistake in retaining too much of Wilder's original text. What can seem simple and natural when spoken comes off as exaggerated and ponderous when sung.
And Rorem may not have been the most stylistically apt choice for the assignment. He is best known as a writer of songs -- miniatures -- and there are many jewel-like moments in the score that are exquisite. But too much of it is just extended sequences of recitative.
That was particularly a problem in the long monologues of the Stage Manager. Gary Briggle was a strong presence in the role, but he found it difficult to keep the tuneless orations interesting.
Stage director Will Graham's production added extraneous scenic elements that spoiled the pristine simplicity that Wilder called for. But his direction captured the story's deep humanity and mined its rich humor, avoiding excessive sentimentality.
The production's strongest assets were Sarah Asmar's Emily and James Howes' George. Her crystalline soprano was the emotional heart of the production, conveying the innocence and the strength of the character. His sweet tenor made the guileless youth endearing.
"Naughty Marietta," the story of an Italian countess who disguises herself as a commoner in 1803 New Orleans, may be a silly trifle, but Skylark's production whipped it into a delicious confection. The tale of pirates, soldiers and maidens was a wonderful romp, with everyone onstage, and in the audience, having a marvelous time.
