Icelanders, photo by Dona Ann McAdams
Michael Turay as The Gnome, photo by Dona Ann McAdams
It's a cheesy title, but I couldn't resist. Now through April 9 you have a chance to see an extraordinary opera by the composer Michael Webster and the poet Eileen Myles. It will be one of the best hours (it's not long so don't be scared) you've spent in a while. I don't want to give too much away, because it is theater, after all. Let's just say it's about a world where the war-mongers have done such a good job that Hell is practically jealous.
Here is an excerpt from the libretto (available on the Hell web site):Poet:
No, Im serious. Theres a group of trees coming right towards us.
Man:
And Im telling you dont even think about it.
Its Father Tree.
People love him.
Hes our leader.
And he doesnt do a thing
Hes the President of the World.
Poet:
Well, shouldnt we greet him, or something?
Maybe he wants to meet me?
Man:
No, thats whats so great about him. He doesnt care.
He has absolutely no curiosity.
Hes famous for that.
I also love the description of "the opposition," the Gnome:
If the Gnome mattered at all hed be Father Trees enemy.
If you need more incentive in addition to the word of Eileen Myles, great music and singing, and brilliant use of video by Peter Flaherty, there is also an "opera hunk" of whom I have spoken before, David Adam Moore. He looks like this and he can sing and act.
David Adam Moore as Lewis, photo by Beth Morrison
Links:
