Carmen was awesome….
Director Erich Parce & mezzo-soprano Jenny Knapp (as Carmen) held the theater in their hands over the weekend.
Until you’ve seen an opera on stage, with costumes & lively people & the set & a live orchestra playing, you haven’t experienced why these shows keep coming back & coming back ver the centuries. Opera Pacifica brought their show up from Olympia and, incorporating talent from the island under choreographer & co-producer Linda Downes’ watchful eye, pulled off an incredible show Saturday night & Sunday afternoon this past weekend.
The music was conducted in the Community Theatre’s orchestra pit by Claudia Simpson-Jones (her husband, Robert, played Don José) while the show was directed by Erich Parce (his wife, Jenny, plays & sings Carmen).
While the entire ensemble had strong, expressive voices, it was Jenny Knapp who got the crowd up for a standing ovation – her Carmen was strong, sexy, and moving….you believed she was a gypsy, and you believed that the poor helpless males in the cast had no choice but to fall in love with her. Good acting + good singing made for a great show. Hope these guys come back again soon!
Local favorite & cellist Sally Browne played in the orchestra while theatre tech dude Steve Judson took care of the lights....
Diana Stepita (left, with one of the show's singers) and Ceily Gray were dancers in the show....
Julie Hagn with her mom Kathy & dad Tom after the show - Julie may be the world's best ballet dancer (you heard it here first!)
Out for a night at the opera: Shann Weston & Steve Porten
After the show, sister Lilah was pretty worn out as she & mom Sophie Rice wait for brother Simon to come from backstage after singing in the children's chorus....
Chris & Joe Luma, all dressed up with somewhere to go, before the show....
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3 comments...
Thank you Ian,
I’m really glad you guys could make it.
I really appreciate the support from you guys….
Yes, it was a good production considering the short time we had to put it together with everyone in the theatre at Friday Harbor. But, I do take exception to the comment that was made about the “Carmen” being the reason for the standing ovation. It takes a whole cast to make a production work, no one individual should be given sole credit for the audience’s ovation at the final curtain of the opera. Everyone should be given credit, including the chorus members & orchestra for giving their best to help make it enjoyable for all!
Yes it was a good opera, but it wasn’t just Carmen who made the show. The whole cast was good and the applause was for everybody! I feel you were bias with the whole Carmen thing and didn’t give enough credit to the other singers. I am a little confused with a blond Carmen it would have been better with the dark hair in my opinion.
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