Recent Press Releases
- Intermezzo
- The New England Chamber Opera Series
Contact:
Donna Trapp
(207) 698-1807
August 28, 2005
Berwick, ME: Intermezzo: The New England Chamber Opera Series, returns to the Hackmatack Playhouse Barn on September 2nd and 3rd with Broadway’s longest running opera “The Medium” by Gian-Carlo Menotti, double billed with Menotti’s one-act comedic opera “The Telephone”.
Composed in 1945, “The Medium” tells a haunting tale of tragedy and loss. It is said that the genesis of the story was derived from an actual séance that Menotti attended at the insistence of friends in 1936. It describes the tragedy of a woman -- Madame Flora -- who is caught between two worlds: a world of reality that she cannot wholly comprehend, and a supernatural world which she cannot believe. Under the stage direction of David Paul Gibson, the Intermezzo Artists being this surreally beautiful opera to life.
The one-act opera “The Telephone” (which was originally paired on Broadway with “The Medium”) is a comic commentary on one of our greatest, yet intrusive inventions. The plot surrounds the character “Ben” as he tries to ask “Lucy” a very important question before he has to leave on an extended business trip. Difficulties arise when Lucy’s unusual attachment to her telephone keeps interrupting his intentions. Yet Ben devises an ingenious to outwit this necessity of modern life.
Intermezzo: The New England Chamber Series was born out of a vision to produce contemporary chamber operas and bring new and exciting musical works to life. Chamber opera merges the dramatic and musical ‘flavor’ of a grand opera with the immediacy of art song, but is performed on a smaller and more intimate scale. Under the visionary guidance of Artistic Director, John Whittlesey, this small, non-profit organization has garnered success and critical acclaim in just three short years performing throughout the Northeast. Last year they brought to Hackmatack Playhouse two unique and intriguing modern American Operas: “Trouble in Tahiti” and “A Question of Love” .
So whether you are an opera buff or you just enjoy good theatre, you shouldn’t miss opera at the barn!
Performances for “The Medium” and “The Telephone” are Friday, September 2nd and Saturday, September 3rd at 8 p.m. at the Hackmatack Playhouse Barn located on Route 9 in Berwick, Maine. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Hackmatack Box Office at (207) 698-1807.