By Emma Krasov
A dazzling new show at Opera San José is as fitting for the holiday season as a glass of tiny bubbles. The classic Johann Strauss’s operetta Die Fledermaus (“The Bat”) with libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genee sparkles with waltzes and polkas, witty remarks and hilarious situations – perhaps, as refreshing and charming today as it has been at its premiere in Vienna in 1873…Conducted by David Rohrbaugh, directed by Marc Jacobs, and choreographed by Robyn Tribuzi, this musical comedy set to the unforgettably vivacious tunes is performed by a master cast of OSJ, harmoniously interacting onstage with grace and ease suitable for the premise of the play.
Revenge, infidelity, class envy, bank fraud, imprisonment, and other otherwise morally “heavy” themes are treated with a tongue-in-cheek lightness and humor, perfectly delivered by opera singers in the roles of vaudeville villains.
James Callon nad Melody King (von Eisenstein and Rosalinde) play a bourgeois couple of mutually-cheating yet loving spouses, while Jillian Boye makes the audience burst with laughter as the chambermaid Adele, sneaking out in her mistress’s gown to a lavish all-night party thrown by an eccentric Russian prince (Nicole Birkland).Michel Dailey is as persuasive as he is funny in the role of Rosalinde’s unlucky ex-lover Alfred who goes to jail through no fault of his, straight from his beloved’s arms.
The whirlwind of a wild-night adventures involves a number of other expressive characters – the play’s culprit, Dr. Falke (the title Bat, performed by Zachary Altman), the misfit lawyer Dr. Blind (Michael Mendelsohn), Adele’s inventive sister, Ida (Tori Grayum), police chief Frank (Isaiah Musik-Ayala), and a jail warden Frosch (Kelly Houston).
The show runs through November 25 at the California Theatre at 345 South First Street, San José. Tickets and information at 408-437-4455 or www.operasj.org.
Images: Pat Kirk.
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