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LC’s latest opera offers unique take on ‘Jack and Jill’

by Wildcat Staff

Opera workshop at Presser Recital Hall this weekend

When you think of opera, terms like “hilarious” or “silly” are usually not the first that come to mind.

But those terms certainly do describe the Louisiana College Department of Music's production of the “Musical Adventures of Jack and Jill” that debuted Thursday night at the Presser Recital Hall.

“This is so not a typical opera that I would say it’s more like a nursery rhyme expanded into a children’s novel, written by Dr. Seuss, perhaps,” said Dr. Loryn Frey, director for the opera. “The set helps to give that impression. And of course, with Jack and Jill falling down every century…”

The performance is every bit opera – but Dr. Frey said the story is that of the oft repeated “Saga of Jack and Jill”, told through the centuries in differing operatic settings tied together with music by Sigmund Spaeth, some narration excerpts by S. L. Rothafel, and text revisions by Dr. Frey and the cast.

The opera's arrangement will take the audience through a five-century musical journey that culminates
with a jazz version, followed by “The Jack and Jill Blues.”

“The librettist, or 'revisionist' who has taken such liberties writing new texts to music by, for some, hallowed operatic composers, asks the audience’s indulgence and hopes they enjoy an evening both familiar and fantastic, leaving reality at the door,” Dr. Frey said.

The main reason this particular performance was chose by Dr. Frey was because the enrollment in her performance class wound up being four women. Naomi Funderburk is a junior Vocal Performance major and will perform her Junior Recital this semester. She plays various roles including Pitti Sing, Narrator and Elizabeth/Jill/Narrator. Adrienne Funderburk is a freshman Choral Music Education major. She sings, Jack, Jill etc. Marie Smith is a sophomore double majoring in Choral Music Ed and Vocal Performance. Frey said Smith is hysterically funny as Jack in the Wagner/Sullivan/Mozart section. Finally, Sarah Kalna is a junior Choral Music Education major, playing Narrator in the Baroque and Jill and Jack in some other sections.

“All the roles are bounced around so that each singer falls at least once,” Dr. Frey said. “We worked on falling techniques in the fall semester, as well as the music.”

Serving as pianist for the performances will be Tanya Nugent. Elliott Ayo also plays the saxophone for some portions of the production

Additional performances will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Presser. Cost is $1 for LC faculty, staff and students, and for students, a cultural credit will be given to them for attending.

Under the direction of Dr. Frey, the LC Opera Workshop has over the years performed classics including Susannah, Gianni Schicchi, Dido and Aeneas, Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, The Mikado, The Bartered Bride, Robert and Elizabeth, The Telephone, Hansel and Gretel and Amahl and the Night Visitors among others.

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