Catching a Madama Butterfly at the Opera

Posted on May 30, 2010 by GusF

Madame Butterfly, Vancouver Opera As part of this year’s 50th Anniversary for the Vancouver Opera, I attended their last opera of the season – Madama Butterfly by Puccini.

As part of Blogger Night, we were seated at our table in the auditorium of the Queen Elizabeth theatre and encouraged to blog, tweet and take photos of our experience during the production. This time around I thought instead of live blogging I would just sit back and tweet my experience with a follow up later on my blog for a full review. My side kicks this time around were Stacey Robinsmith, Kelsey Dundon, and John Biehler (with iPad in tow).

As per usual our evening begins with a backstage tour of the production. The stage, costumes and video are all designed by Jun Kaneko from Nagoya Japan giving it a fairly psychedelic look with vivid colours and bold patterns. This stage is smaller than their all their previous productions this year and Jun Kaneko uses lights and artistic video to highlight and enhance the mood of the production.

Standing at the top of the stage it’s easy to become dizzy and suffer from vertigo. The stage director let us know that viewing the stage from a balcony you would see a spiraling effect. Though I wasn’t sure how the whole stage would work during the production, I easily saw how it could play.

The opera is divided up into 3 Acts with only one 25 minute intermission shortly after the first Act.

The performers gave it their all for this production. During the first Act I truly believed in James Valenti’s portrayal of Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton as an American navel officer who is stationed in Japan arranges to marry a young geisha – Madama Butterfly. His innocents, yet arrogant attitudes, are believable as he meets his young bride to be for the first time. James’ singing is superb, and his acting skills are amazing. Though not your typical older Tenor, James is young and fits the young naval officer look.

Mihoko Kinoshita’s portrayal of Madama Butterfly was amazing. Singing some of the classics that I’ve heard before were sung with passion and the chemistry between her and James were amazing. You can see the love she has for the naval officer and though the first Act is filled with flirting between the two, you wonder what would happen if their relationship did work out in the end.

The supporting cast also do an amazing job with Joseph Hu’s comical portrayal of Goro the marriage broker and Zheng Cao’s heartwarming portrayal of Suzuki, servant to Madama Butterfly. Also the amazing Jonathan Darlington conducting the amazing music of Puccini and Yoyoi Hirano’s coaching how the actors move on stage make this production a must see.

To round off the evening we were part of the cast after party backstage and were able to mingle with the cast and crew that made this production from the Vancouver Opera truly enjoyable.

What an amazing evening and a great way to round out the wonderful 50th Anniversary of the Vancouver Opera. I’m hoping I’ll be able to participate again next season on Blogger Night as it’s truly a great experience and one that I am grateful to have been apart of! Thanks again to Ling Chan, Social Media Manager of the Vancouver Opera and all the great staff.

The Wedding Singer – Vancouver Production

Posted on May 6, 2010 by GusF

I was invited by Fighting Chance Productions to attend their opening night of The Wedding Singer last week, but unfortunately due to some other plans, I had to cancel. Ryan was gracious enough to offer me a chance to see it another day. Last night was that day for me.

For those that do not know, The Wedding Singer is a musical based on the movie by the same name staring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The musical version, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, had its first performance on Broadway on April 27, 2006 and ran to December 31, 2006 [wikipedia] and makes its Vancouver premiere at the Jericho Arts Centre directed by Ryan Mooney of Fighting Chance Productions.

Since my good friend Theresa loves the movie, I thought it would be great to have her attend the show with me.

The Wedding Singer tells the story of Robbie Hart, played by Andrew Halliwell, a New Jersey wedding singer and Julia Sullivan, played by Lexy Campbell, a banquet hall waitress, who meet at a wedding. Robbie’s fiancee leaves him at the alter and Julia’s fiancee is a douche bag stock broker. Of course the story is your typical boy meets girl story, but it has some cute and charming moments throughout. Andrew puts so much heart in his character of Robbie and really shines in the production. Though Lexy’s Julia is sometimes a little drab, the chemistry more than makes up for it.

The supporting cast does a fantastic job of keeping the play moving along, including Sean Parson’s portrayal of George (a boy George clone) and Alex McMorran as Sammy (including his Flock of Seagulls hairdo) and since the play takes place in the 80′s it’s fun to see 80′s pop culture thrown in for good fun. Yes the 80′s were a strange decade. Though I think the production could have done better with a bigger stage, they did a fantastic job of delivering the story and everyone looked like they were have tons of fun in the process.

photo by Emme Rogers

Emme Rogers was able to get some great shots of the production and you can view them on her Flickr page.

It was a fun evening with some great laughs by the audience and some fun music along the way. Well done Ryan on a great production. Fighting Chance Productions is doing great things in the Theatre community and you keep bringing some great value and allowing young actors to shine.

The Wedding Singer runs from April 26th to May 22nd with tickets at $25 – $30. Based on an email I received today, tickets are selling out fast so don’t miss your chance to attend. Get your tickets now.

Figaro Get's Married – Opera Style

Posted on April 24, 2010 by GusF

Finally settling in at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for our evening at the production of The Marriage of Figaro.

We are seated at our Blogger table and ready to await our audience Ok maybe not, but we are here all set up and typing to our hearts content. Funny enough we have a photobooth next to us that takes your picture and posts it on the Vancouver Opera’s Pic Twitter feed. Take a look throughout the evening for some fun photos. Check out the photo below as Tris and I attempt to mimic the poster.

We’ll soon be taking a tour of the backstage and I’m looking forward to seeing the props for this evening. Stay tuned for more as the evening progresses.

I’ll be updating photos on my Flickr set as well.

Update: 7:11pm

We’ve just had our tour of the backstage. Very traditional set which is rented from the Banff Opera. The floor is fairly tilted and to protect the actors on stage, it was covered with a slightly sticky substance (coke and water from what we are told). The colour coded on the floor is coded per scene of the production.

We are waiting for the production to begin at 7:30pm! Can’t wait to see it and I’m sure Russ will have some commentary for me to type on the blog as well.

Update 9:21 pm

The first two acts are finally complete and what a wonderful production it has been so far. The music has been wonderful to hear and all the principals are wonderful to hear. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ve been laughing and, for lack of a better word, grooving to the music of Mozart.

The humor is fast and it’s easy to get lost along the way, but overall I’ve been having great fun at the opera. I think I will hold off for a greater review later as our intermission is only 25 minutes long and it took sometime to get out.

What I would like to say it’s been fun being front row in center stage. We are right by the conductor and it’s fun watching him move from behind as he directs the orchestra.

What a wonderful production! A must see if you ever been interested in Opera. A great introduction to the world of music, theatre and comedy.

Blogging at the Marriage of Figaro

Posted on April 23, 2010 by GusF

Once again this coming Saturday I will be part of a blogger group that will blog during opening night of the Vancouver Opera’s production of The Marriage of Figaro. I will be with a great group of individuals again; Kelsey Dundon, Tris Hussey, and John Biehler.

We will have our table set in the lobby of the Queen Elizabeth theatre and will be giving our commentary on the night as it progresses.

So if you are attending the opera, please stop by and say hello to us.

The production runs April 24, 27, 29 and May 1 and 4, 2010. Opening night is currently SOLD OUT, but tickets are still available for the other 4 nights. Buy your tickets quickly and come out and enjoy a great evening of fun, music, and love.

Let's Go to an 80's Prom Contest

Posted on March 15, 2010 by GusF

What could be better than reliving your 80′s prom? Fighting Chance Productions wants to offer one of my lucky readers two tickets to experience just that with the production of The Awesome 80′s Prom on Friday March 19th at the Vancouver Alpen Club.

The Awesome 80s Prom is a brand new blast-from-the-past party in the style of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding set at Wanaget High’s Senior Prom… in 1989! All your favorite characters from your favorite ’80s movies are at THE PROM, from the Captain of the Football Team to the Asian Exchange Student, from the Geek to the hottie Head Cheerleader, and they’re all competing for Prom King and Queen. And just like on “American Idol”, the audience decides who wins! Come back in time and join the breakdance circle or just sit back and watch the ’80s drama unfold.

So how do you win the tickets? Well leave a comment on this post or tweet this and tell me about your high school prom. Was it in the 80′s like mine? Did you have the mullet or teased out hair? Did you dance to Madonna, Dead or Alive or OMD? I’ll be drawing the winner this Thursday at 3pm.

If you don’t win you can also buy tickets for the March 19th or March 20th performance.

I’m looking forward to attending myself and reliving some of those moments in time. I was hoping to have some of my old ’87 prom photos scanned, but alas my computer wasn’t cooperating with me when writing this post.

Update: Some of my prom photos. Yup that’s me in the hat.

Updated:

Congrats to Rich Patterson who was the lucky winner of the draw! Enjoy the your prom!

Live Blogging: Vancouver Opera – Nixon in China

Posted on March 13, 2010 by GusF

Throughout the evening I’ll be blogging at the Canadian Premiere of Nixon in China, presented by the Vancouver Opera.

I’m currently setting up and getting ready for the other bloggers to arrive before we get a tour of the backstage. We have internet connection this time around and should hopefully be set for the evening. I’m hoping to update with some photos as well as my experience as this Opera takes place. Curtain goes up at 7:30pm and I hear it will be a 3 hour long production.

Tris Hussey’s fiance Shela is a performer at this event so it makes it extra special that he is one of the bloggers with us tonight.

So please stay tuned as the excitement builds.

Update 7:00pm

Just had our backstage tour of the production. Interesting to note that this is the most expensive Vancouver Opera produced to date. A total of $1..4 million dollars was spent. Based on some of the sets we’ve just seen this will be a great show. Starting with the Presidential Plane landing in China

Update 7:23pm

We are about to head into our seats and enjoy the production. Doesn’t look like a full house this time around, but still a great attendance.

Update 8:45pm

First act has been completed and we are no seated at our tables again on display. I have to say the role of Richard Nixon played by Robert Orth is amazing. He has Nixon’s manerisms down pack and the visual of the plane landing in China is great. The stage director Michael Cavanagh, Lighting director Harry Frehner and Scenic Designer Erhard Rom have done an amazing job of visuals and landing a plane on stage.

Although this is modern opera sung in English, they do have the subtitles available and it comes in handy when there are multiple people singing different lines.

Update 11:00pm

The last act is now over and though I was lost after the last scene in the second act, I still enjoyed the production. now we are invited to the after party where I hope some food will be at hand.

Final Thoughts

I must admit that after the second scene in Act 2 started off great with the Nixons and Mao’s wife enjoying the ballet (which was beautifully danced), but then threw me for a loop as somehow Kissinger became apart of the ballet and had a small dance number with the principal ballerina. As the production continued into the last act, I was still a bit thrown off as to what was going on. There was a sense of a dream scape happening. It wasn’t later until the after party that someone explained to me what was going on. The last scene of Act 2 and into Act 3 are a dream scape, and this is happening in their minds.

That put aside, the production is amazing. The customs are top notch and the set design is truly wonderful. I can’t remember the last time I had such fun watching the set change form scene to scene and wondering what next is in store for the eyes senses.

The production continues on March 16th, 18th and 20th and well worth it just for the imagery alone on stage.

The following are my photos of the evening.

Blogging at "Nixon in China" Tonight

Posted on March 13, 2010 by GusF

Illustration by Edel Rodriguez

Tonight I’ll be joining fellow bloggers Raul Pacheco, Tris Hussey, Emme Rogers, and Darren Barefoot as we blog live during the Vancouver Opera’s productions of “Nixon in China“; a Canadian premiere. We will be blogging during intermissions and getting a tour of backstage and hopefully again get to meet the cast of the opera.

If you are coming to the opera, please say hi to us as we blog, tweet and take photos of our experience.

I’m not sure what to expect, but based on the work the Vancouver Opera has been doing for this (you can read more on their blog), it looks like it will be an amazing production.

Based on the synopsis, the production will have 3 Acts and have 2 intermissions so you will have plenty of time to stop by the blogger table and say hello.

I can’t wait to be apart of the Canadian premiere of this opera. Looks like it will be lots of fun.

Here is a brief taste of the opera

Fighting Chance Productions – Matt & Ben

Posted on March 5, 2010 by GusF

Matt & Ben

Last night I attended the premier of Fighting Chance Productions – Matt & Ben by invitation from the Artistic Director, Ryan Mooney with my good friend Theresa.

Written by Mindy Kaling (The Office) and Brenda Withers, Matt & Ben tells the story of Matt Damon & Ben Affleck journey into writing their Oscar award winning script “Good Will Hunting“. Granted this story is not an actual telling of the story since the script falls from the sky while they are attempting to write an adaptation of “Catcher in the Rye“. The laughs come from their struggle of this mysterious script and whether it’s a gift from God or a dreaded curse.

The play works great, showcasing the friendship between two unlikely men from different backgrounds.

Starring Kat Gauthier (Matt Damen) & Rebecca Strom (Ben Affleck) and directed by Laura McLean the 75 minute production will leave you laughing. Playing from March 4 – 13 at the Havana Theatre on Commercial Drive, I suggest you see it. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students.

Below is a brief video about the production.

Les Misérables at The Stanley Theatre

Posted on August 5, 2009 by GusF

This past Friday I was treated to a version of Les Misérables at the Stanley Theatre thanks to Raul and the Arts Club.

I have heard the music before and had scene the 10th Anniversary Special which aired on PBS and since then I was hooked at wanting to see the play live.

I have to say this production with the Kieran Martin Murphy as Jean Valjean and Réjean Cournoyer as Javert really make the production for me. The vocal talent of these 2 gentlemen were truly outstanding. Don’t get me wrong the rest of the cast does an amazing job, but I don’t think they are quite at that caliber that these two gentlemen are at. Sara-Jeanne Hosie who portrays Fantine was the top female performer in this cast. She hit the notes amazingly and truly made me shed a tear during her hospital scene when she sings to Cosette her daughter. Then of course are Nicola Lipman who portrays Madame Thénardier and John Mann who portrays Thénardier (the Innkeeper and his wife) who provide great comedy relief in an otherwise sad and tragic story line.

I have really never seen the production in it’s full, and I have to give the producers and director great applause for doing what they did. They kept to the core, they chose great artists, and the people of Vancouver thanked them graciously.

Now the production is only on until August 6th, so if you haven’t seen it yet, please get out there today or tomorrow. You can purchase tickets online here.

Outdoor Theatre

Posted on August 5, 2008 by GusF

Tonight Russ and I will be joining a couple of our friends to experience “Theatre Under the Stars”. We’ll be going to see Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun.

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) produced operettas and musicals 1940-63 at the Malkin Bowl. The original TUTS was founded under the auspices of the Vancouver Park Board by board superintendent A.S. Wootten, conductor Basil Horsfall and actor E.V. Young, with advice from Gordon Hilker, to provide entertainment in Stanley Park in Malkin Bowl, which was a band shell for summer concerts. – Source

Built in 1934, the band shell is a two thirds replica of the Hollywood Bowl and was created to honor W.H. Malkin’s wife.