St. Jacobs Theatre produces a version of holy story worthy of
original NBC show
Rosalind Pickett, as the mother, and Connor Rea, as Amahl,
star in the St. Jacobs Theatre production of Amahl and the
Night Visitors, the story of a shepherd boy who is visited by
the three kings who are following the star to the birth of
Jesus.
(PHILIP WALKER, RECORD STAFF) |
REVIEW -- Surely one of the most poignant and delightful
Christmas presentations, Amahl and the Night Visitors has
beautiful music, humour, pathos and unforgettable characters.
Written for NBC-TV by Gian-Carlo Menotti in 1951, the short,
charismatic opera was rebroadcast by NBC every Christmas by
popular demand until, mysteriously, the tape disappeared.
But don't despair, for St. Jacobs Theatres Inc. has mounted a
lavish production of Amahl at the Church Theatre in St. Jacobs,
which faithfully recaptures every nuance of the NBC original, and
with voices, staging and costumes certainly the equal of the
high-budget television version.
All members of the family will enjoy this production.
Amahl is a poor, crippled shepherd boy who lives with his
mother somewhere in the Middle East about 2,000 years ago. He is
prone to imagining, sometimes exaggerating the stories he tells
his mother.
THREE GREAT KINGS
When Amahl tries to tell her of the huge star he has seen in
the sky with a long tail, his mother scolds him for telling
another fib and scoots him off to bed. Later there is a knocking
at the door, and when Amahl opens it to peek out he runs to wake
his mother and tell her that there are three great kings outside.
Of course she doesn't believe him, but when he finally
persuades her to get up and look she is quite taken aback when
these three resplendent nobles ask if they might come in and warm
themselves by the fire.
They say they are following the Eastern Star to the birth of a
wondrous child, for whom they have brought great gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh. Amahl is full of questions, but his mother
resents the riches of the three visitors, and when they sleep she
decides to steal some of the gold in order to help her son.
The heartwarming resolution carries a message for young and old
alike.
The voices and the acting in this production are flawless.
Amahl is perfectly captured by Connor Rea, singing in a
boy-soprano with remarkable range and agility, and never faltering
on the difficult melodic progressions of the score. He is very
convincing as he hobbles with his crutch, never letting his
disability slow him down, and facing life with an exuberance which
belies their meager surroundings.
GLORIOUS SOPRANO VOICE
Rea's miming of the flute sounds on his flute a bec was more
convincing than anything I have ever seen in films or on
television.
Rosalind Pickett as the mother has a glorious soprano voice,
and from the first call of 'Amahl! -- Amahl!' you know you are in
for a treat every time she sings. Pickett is expressive, with a
soaring range she displays with ease, and she is every bit the
mother, full of concern for her unfortunate son. A warm, tender
and delightful performance.
The Three Kings are in the hands of three experienced
professionals --Wayne Berwick as Kaspar, Andre Clouthier as
Melchior and Reid Spencer as Balthazar, and you simply couldn't
find better performers for these roles. They carry the majesty of
their rank and station in life, with Berwick playing the elder of
the three and becoming delightfully confused, Balthazar constantly
coming to his rescue.
The voices of these three are rich, controlled instruments,
with power, control, and superb intonation, witnessed both in
their harmony and solos. Their quartet with Pickett is beautiful
to hear.
Even the secondary roles are perfectly handled, both vocally
and in movement. The shepherds are Dale Brubacher-Cressman,
Charlotte Embree, Jason Martorino, Anne Marie Massicotte and
Carolyn McInally. Their chorus work is perfectly harmonized and
balanced, they move extremely well, and McInally displays her
remarkable dancing ability in several sequences.
Brubacher-Cressman, by the way, has both an Oscar and an Emmy
for technical achievement in his work with Research In Motion.
SUITABLY GOOFY GOPHER
The Kings' Page is being played by both Adam Luther and Joseph
Schnurr because of scheduling conflicts, with Schnurr in the role
on the night I saw the production. Suitably goofy as the gopher,
Schnurr surprised with a clear, strong baritone when he catches
Amahl's mother stealing the gold.
Both the blocking and choreography were handled with a fluid
feel throughout the production, perfectly integrated and never
intrusive, thanks to director Lisa Hagen and choreographer Marion
Guyatt.
The set was remarkable for a small stage -- adobe walls, a
stable on stage left, a working fireplace, and the background of
the starry night sky complete with the Star of Bethlehem, and the
costumes were outstanding, especially the Three Kings, with both
set and costume design by Shirley Martin.
Carol McFadden was music director, with Peter DeSousa on
keyboards and Jennifer Rodrigues on woodwinds.
This production is a gem in all respects.
hcurrie@therecord.com
STAGE
Who: Amahl and the Night Visitors
Where: The Church Theatre, St. Jacobs
When: through Dec. 22 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays)
Time: 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays; 7 p.m. each night
Cost: $25, $20 (children)
Phone: 664-1134
