Stars and Struts Forever
By Octavio Roca By Octavio Roca August 26, 1980
John Philip Sousa’s “The Free Lance” was born in 1905 and practically died in Philadelphia in 1906, falling into neglect until 1979. That same city chose to revive the opera then, and that same production opened cheap canada goose uk at Wolf Trap last night. With any luck, the artisty of the cast notwithstanding canada goose coats on sale this production will uk canada goose outlet kill the work again for another 75 years.
The story of this two act lump is inscrutably inane, though not much worse than those uk canada goose of many beloved operettas. canada goose In a pinch, they come up with a goose girl named Griselda and Siegmund, a balding janitor to a herd of goats, he being a former free lance mercenary warrior. That couple is already married, incidentally, but let’s not bother with too many details. When the truth is found about the kingdoms’ poverty, each king declares war on the other. In the meantime, Siegmund regains his hair and his strength, thanks to the sorcery of a wandering witch who turns out to be Griselda’s long lost mother. He then thinks of a canada goose clearance sale way to profit from the forthcoming war. While the real prince and princess actually meet on their own and fall in love, the clever and now hairier free lance leads troops to a two sided victory, and amasses a good bit of property as a reward.
This nostalgic glorification of mercenary capitalism in its golden years is no operatic landmark. It is not canada goose store even as Canada Goose Parka clever canada goose uk shop as any Gilbert Sullivan operetta, the genre it most canada goose clearance resembles. cheap Canada Goose Other musical associations vary, from inferior Romberg to anticipated Herbert. “Patience” came to mind more than once. Yet Canada Goose Outlet there were some enjoyable musical moments, including a whistled canada goose factory sale chorus and a quartet in Act Canada Goose sale One which had the canada goose uk outlet definite stamp of the American musical. The melodies were generously buy canada goose jacket thrown away, and while canada goose coats there is nothing American in itself about this stylistic potpourri, an unabashed eclecticism and vitality stood out here and there, making “The Free Lance” an unmistakable prelude to Broadway.
Directors Basil Langton and Lesley buy canada goose jacket https://www.canadagoosejacketsaleca.com/ cheap Koenig did not trust the work, which runs through Canada Goose Coats On Sale tomorrow, enough to stage it faithfully. The orchestra sat stage left, their black and white uniforms clashing with the tacky decor and impeding much of canadian goose jacket the action. Stage right of the unit set usually was covered by the Iowa State University chorus, a group of strong women and almost inaudible men. The costumes varied between the Gay ’90s and somewhere in the 18th century; the blocking resembled the old Mitch Miller show, and the whole business was misdirected with pushy condescension.
Fortunately the cast rescued much. John Reardon was pure joy, playing the title role with the timing of a Lucille Ball in drag. He is one of the treasures of the American stage, his many years Canada Goose Online of varied musical experience only increasing his power to own the scene with a single gesture. Theodore Uppman was a nice bit of luxurious casting as the Canada Goose Jackets king of Braggadocia. Evelyn Petros was the beautiful goose girl, her voice gamy at the top and lacking heft; but she can get by on the sensual gifts of her tones and looks, and she did.
The audience was in a canada goose uk black friday kind canada goose black friday sale and friendly mood, and perhaps there is nothing truly offensive about this opera. In a smaller theater more of the humor might Canada Goose online have come through, and the orchestra might have been forced into the canada goose online outlet pit where it belonged. But on a first and, for many of us, last hearing, “The Free Lance” bored.
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