Bowling Green Opera Theater presents comic romp

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Strong-willed wives turn the tables on their stubborn husbands in ways that bring laughter and love to all in “I quattro rusteghi,” presented by the Bowling Green State University Opera Theater. The comic opera will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, in Kobacker Hall of the Moore Musical Arts Center.

Written by Venetian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari and sung in English, the story takes place in 18th-century Venice during Carnival. It tells the tale of Lunardo, a rich and rude Venetian antiques dealer who is interested in marrying off his daughter Lucieta for his own gain.

Director Dr. Ronald Shields, a professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film at BGSU, will give a free talk on the opera before each performance, in the Bryan Recital Hall in the Moore Center. He will speak at 7:15 p.m. Friday and 2:15 p.m. Sunday.

Tim Bruno of Toledo appears as Lunardo, Lariche Jones of Livonia, Mich., is his wife, Margarita, and Abby Krawson, of Canton, is Lucieta. All three are seniors majoring in vocal performance.

Michael May, from Hamilton, portrays Lunardo’s old friend Maurizio, and Nathanael Hein of Cleveland Heights appears as his son Filipeto. Both are seniors majoring in performance.

Graduate performance majors Jesse Koza, from Lancaster, is Simon, and Katherine Liesner, from Massillon, is his wife, Marina. The role of Cancian will be sung by Joel Trisel, a junior from Celina majoring in music education. Appearing as his wife, Felice, will be graduate performance major Mary Brewer of Greenville.

The cast also includes Drew Ochoa, a sophomore performance major from Toledo, as Count Ricardo, and graduate performance majors Hilary Maiberger, of Solona Beach, Calif., and Todd Doering, of Sarasota, Fla., as the servants Berta and Ernesto.

Musical director is Dr. Emily Freeman Brown, director of orchestral activities in BGSU’s College of Musical Arts. Dr. Michael Ellison, an associate professor of theatre and film, provided choreography and is the acting coach. Lighting design is by Keith Hofacker, technical director/designer at the music college, with Shields providing the set design. Margaret McCubbin, associate professor of theatre and film, is the costume designer. Voice/opera coach Kevin Bylsma, an instructor of music performance studies, provided the musical preparation.

Tickets are $9 for students and senior citizens and $12 for other adults in advance. On the day of the performance, ticket prices increase by $3. Tickets can be purchased at the Moore Center box office weekdays from noon-6 p.m. or reserved by calling 419-372-8171 or toll-free 1-800-589-2224.

###

(Posted February 20, 2009 )