This weekend's performance of "The Secret Gardener" provided an opera full of drama, vanity and love.
To give a general overview for those of you who missed out on this charming performance, the opera was an adaptation from Mozart's "La Finta Giardiniera."
Its storyline is based around "the confusion of love" and was set in the office of an esteemed mayor running for re-election.
Director Joachim Schamberger, a visiting music professor of opera,, wrote dialogue and produced the previous three operas at DePauw.
Not only is the storyline enticing but the music also added a key aspect to this show's success. Musical Director Orcenith Smith has helped conduct yet another opera filled with fantastic music from the on-stage performers and the instrumentalists. The cast consisted of 27 actors, who were double cast, and a 28 member orchestra.
Disastrously funny, the story starts as the mayor's office is being decked out for his new green campaign. This is where the secret gardener comes into play to spruce up the green scene in the office.
The story continues with musical numbers filled with romantic tragedies. In the production, we see the music school taking more and more steps into the 21st century with the addition of a reality TV show called "Blind Wedding" that maintains the story's sense of humor.
Not only is this story filled with comic relief, but with some pretty outstanding performers. First-year Alec Reznich and junior Joey Leppek, both playing the role of Mayor Anchise, did an outstanding job stealing our hearts with their awkward yet touching song of love for the devious Violante.
Incorporating some of the orchestra pit members into the scene gave the audience a chance to see some of the behind the scenes faces.
Along with the performers, credit is due to the lighting and set designers of the crew.
As the show progressed, it slowly filled with additional greenery coming in from the fly space above the stage. In addition, there was lighting that gave the illusion of plants sprouting up everywhere.
By the end of the show, it felt like the office would be better suited as a greenhouse.
I heard similar reviews when talking with another student that made it out to the show.
"It was evident that everyone involved worked really hard to put the show together," said first-year Jessica Pagan, a student in the School of Music. "The energy on the stage was great and the audience seemed to really enjoy it."
The general consensus among those in attendance was that the show really tried to reach out to the audience through its attempt to relate to the current generation.
Overall, the directors did an outstanding job, the cast performed at an advanced level and the behind the scenes help was top notch. Together this created an enjoyable and lively performance.
