Sunday, March 27, 2016

Opera Workshop's Frantic Musical Chairs for Lovers in “Speed Dating Tonight!”

 Steampunk Girl, Panic Attack, Lives at Home and Love Me, Love My Cats! are a few of the characters enacting a frantic contemporary mating ritual in the comic opera Speed Dating Tonight! performed by the HSU Opera Workshop for four performances beginning Thursday March 24 in Gist Hall Theatre. 

 It’s musical chairs for lovers as 15 hopefuls in a bar introduce themselves (some truthfully, some not) with a five minute time limit, and the plot thickens along with the comedy. “Laughing together is a wonderful way to explore the culture of the modern dating world,” said director Elisabeth Harrington. 

 This is the California premiere (and 25th production) of this one-hour opera by American composer Michael Ching, who allows directors flexibility in various aspects of the show. “So no two productions will be the same,” Harrington said. “The characters are fresh and modern, and very diverse. I think audiences will respond to the humanity of the piece--humanity in all its awkwardness as we seek a suitable match!” 

 The Opera Workshop performs Speed Dating Tonight! Thursday through Saturday, March 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday March 27 at 2 p.m. in Gist Hall Theatre at HSU. Tickets are $10 general, $5 seniors and children, $3 HSU students with ID, from HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Directed by Elisabeth Harrington, produced by HSU Music Department.

Media: Mad River Union, Times-Standard Urge, North Coast Journal, HSU Now

No comments: