The concept of enjoyable and comprehensible opera might be foreign to some Brown students, but Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan's production of "Patience" pulls it off quite deftly. Directed by Peter Hatch '11, the show runs Nov. 21 to 23 in Alumnae Hall.
"Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride," is an 1881 comic operetta that tracks the parallel misadventures of two poets - Bunthorne (Philip Arevalo '11), a "fleshly" poet and Grosvenor (Nicholas Leiserson '09), an "idyllic" poet. They each try to resist the advances of a crowd of rapturous maidens, while at the same time, pursuing the play's namesake - a humble dairy maid, Patience, Gabriel Trilling '10.
The operetta was written as a satiric commentary on the aesthetic movement in late nineteenth-century England, poking fun at the sometimes grandiose pretensions of artists and playwrights of the era. Nearly a century and a half later, Hatch says he still finds the message of "Patience" to be relevant.
The satire is "amazingly current," Hatch said. "Playing around with artistic pretension and showing what happens when people take themselves too seriously - it's fun to play with those themes."
Arevalo and Leiserson rise to the challenge of portraying pompous and over-the-top artistic characters. With his booming baritone voice and assertive stage presence, Arevalo especially commands attention during his solos and monologues. Bunthorne and Grosvenor's duet "When I Go Out of Door" is a highlight of the second act, for the pair bring to life the clashing vanities of two self-important poets.
The singing is enjoyable all around, though Trilling's voice is the most remarkable. She does a masterful job of standing in stark contrast to the sickeningly lovesick maidens who fawn over the poets and whose affections change with the wind. The maidens, who open the play, are rallied by Lady Jane, played by Katie Meyers '10. Her silvery voice is noteworthy, both on its own and in duets with Trilling and with Amber Brown '12 as Lady Saphir.
Complementing the chorus of maidens is the dragoon guard squad. Their attempts to win back the women from the poets are the source of much of the opera's comedy. Ken McPherson does a stellar job of portraying the Duke of Dunstable, one of the leaders of the squad. Though the dragoons' dancing is lackluster at times, they surely make up for it with their solid harmony. The ensemble numbers involving the dragoons and maidens, such as "Let the Merry Cymbals Sound," which ends Act I, are some of the most vibrant and enjoyable moments of the play.
Also commendable is the 15-player orchestra, directed by Joe Rim '12, which provides a professional-sounding accompaniment that is nothing short of outstanding. Seeing them play live brings a touch of elegance to the performance.
Director Hatch - who makes a cameo appearance as Bunthorne's solicitor - and his team handle the challenges of this light opera with skill. They make the production accessible to the general public with surtitles and helpful program notes. All in all, "Patience" is an approachable and inviting performance that will regale avid opera-goers and theatre novices alike.
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. The group will also present a "Gag Show" Sunday at 2 p.m. Performances are free and open to the public.
