Two men strive for the affection of a milkmaid tonight when the Ohio University Opera Theater presents a comedic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Patience will be performed at 7:30 tonight and tomorrow at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Admission is $12 and free for students.
The opera is a comedy that tells the story of a milkmaid named Patience who, while searching for love, finds herself torn between two men: the poet, Bunthorne, and her childhood love, Grosvenor. At the same time, it satirizes the 19th century aesthetic movement and a popular poet of the time, Oscar Wilde.
The performance is different from traditional opera in that it is more like a play with music, with more dialogue and dance numbers, said Artistic Director Richard Crist.
There's lots of dialogue and speaking and the music enhances that
Crist said.
Although they try to present performances that are accessible and enjoyable to students, Crist said recent university funding cuts as well as a rising cost of putting on the opera cause him to fear that the Opera Theater program could be cut.
This could very well be the last fully staged opera that could be presented here for a while Crist said. I hope not.
Sophomore Layla Everett, who is a part of the chorus in Patience, said that she hopes the audience gains a better appreciation for music and opera after seeing the performance.
I feel like a lot of people don't appreciate music the way it should be (appreciated) ... Everett said. I hope they get an appreciation of music and of opera because it's a big thing in my life and I hope people can take away from that.
3
Culture
Lynsie Dickerson
31442b.jpg
