"I love you!" "You're married!" ..blah blah blah, gotta love it!

Thanks to summers with Grandma, I can say I have had quite an education on soap operas.  There was probably a time when I could have named the entire cast of The Young and the Restless.  So being involved in opera was not too much of a stretch.  I mean, let's be honest, the plots and characters are very similar.  You could translate O mio babbino caro or Fra gli amplessi and probably find a script for As The World Turns or Bold and the Beautiful (hell, even Greys Anatomy) just like it.  But of course, the difference between soaps and opera is soaps are present day whereas opera takes us to another time: 18^th century Seville, Napoleonic Rome, Pioneering Colorado.  So what would you think about seeing an opera that IS a soap opera? *enter old 50's style organ interlude*

Saint Louis City Opera recently performed Gallantry, a Soap Opera by Douglas Moore, a fun little operatic parody of television soap operas.  Written in 1958, the opera is based on the old 50's style soap operas like Hawkins Falls and Young Doctor Malone.  The opera begins with an advertisement for Lochinvar Soap, the sponsor for Gallantry.  At the top of the “episode” Dr. Gregg is professing his love to the anesthetist, Lola as they are about to go into surgery.  Lola explains that though she admires Dr. Gregg, she is engaged to a man named Donald.  Despite this, Dr. Gregg tries to kiss Lola to which she responds with a slap.  This leads to a commercial for Billy Boy Wax, "the waxy wax that spells relax".  As it turns out, the patient they are about to operate on happens to be Donald who, unaware of Dr. Gregg's feelings for Lola, asks how Mrs. Gregg is.  After putting Donald under anesthesia, Lola threatens to expose Dr. Gregg to which Dr. Gregg responds by threatening to stab Donald with the scalpel to which  Lola dramatically saves Donald to which Dr. Gregg chases Lola out of the operating room to which Donald awakes from surgery alone (yeah, soap opera indeed!).  Donald is well, and he and Lola sing of their love followed by a stereotypical “tune in next week!” and one last plug for Lochinvar Soap and Billy Boy Wax.

Saint Louis City Opera director, Allyson Ditchey organized a fun evening of performance and refreshment.  STLCO is a small company operated by, and comprised entirely of local artists.  An organization dedicated to fostering and cultivating artistic growth, STLCO has been very fortunate to receive various donations including libations from Schlafley Beer and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company.

The evening was quite fun. It was not like going to the opera but more like going to a vaudeville or variety show.  The Chapel provided a very relaxed and lighthearted environment; it was a refreshing change from the normal suit and gown evening at the opera house.  Debra Hillabrand was the Announcer and set the scene perfectly.  Her mannerisms and facial expressions were perfect in the old 50's commercials.  Greg Storkan as Dr. Gregg (ironic naming, right?) was perfect as a soap operatic singing actor.  His physical drama and overly done facial expressions were dead on.  Megan Higgins and Clark Sturdevant as Lola and Donald  sang their second half love duet beautifully.  The real charm of the show came from “Poof” Girls - Stephanie Ball and Elise LaBargethe - the Announcer's backup dancers who so comedically described the power of Billy Boy Wax. 

I very much look forward to seeing more performances with Saint Louis City Opera.  This was surely a fun night.  For further information about the company feel free to contact Allyson Ditchey at stlcityopera@gmail.com