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St. Olaf presents 'bewitched' opera production

By John Andert '10
January 18, 2008

What happens when the objects that three spoiled, bad-tempered children have mistreated magically come to life to teach them a lesson?

BewitchedLarge
Students rehearse for the upcoming production of The Bewitched Children
The answer can be found during the St. Olaf Opera Workshop's production of The Bewitched Children, which will be performed from Jan. 23-25 in the Christensen Hall of Music's Urness Recital Hall. The house will open at 7:45 p.m. each night and the show begins at 8:15 p.m. It is free and open to the public, and no reservation or ticket is required.

This one-hour adaptation of Maurice Ravel's enchanting opera, originally titled L'enfant et les sortileges (The Child and the Spells), is sung in a creative English translation and is a treat for all ages. Set in the wealthy children's large bedroom -- themed with castles, forests and English estates -- the inanimate objects spring to life with explosions of color, sound and quirky dance animation. The wide array of objects that teach the children about caring includes a grandfather clock, a fireplace, princesses, couches, chairs, teapots, teacups, bats, dragonflies, squirrels, cats and frogs.

Stage director Jim McKeel, music director Hannah Braasch, pianist Chris Ganza '10 and choreographer Liz Steffensen '08 took advantage of the production's 26 cast members by adding additional roles to the opera for maximum effect. Instead of having one "bewitched child" like the original opera, for example, this production features three siblings who must deal with the wrath of a host of abused objects, animals and insects.

This opera is the fifth production of the new St. Olaf Music Department Lyric Theatre Season directed by Janis Hardy and James McKeel. Past productions of the Lyric Theatre Season have included La Finta Giardiniera by W.A. Mozart, Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum by Jim Mckeel, An Evening with the Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan and, most recently, Carmen by George Bizet.

The second year of the Lyric Theatre Season will close with a student-directed production of Stephen Sondheim's witty and wise musical Company in the spring of 2008.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.