'Merry Widow' opera confuses spectators

Melissa Morgan/Exponent Photographer THICKER THAN THIEVES: Nijegus, Chauncery Clerk at the Pontevedrian Enmbassy in Paris and Baron Zeta, an ambassador, plot and plan the relationships of important people in their aristocratic circle in "The Merry Widow." The comic operetta was performed Sunday at the Elliott Hall of Music.

By Anna Herkamp
Senior Writer

Sunday afternoon, the audience in the Elliott Hall of Music transcended from 2002 and into the French aristocracy of the early 1900's.

The main characters of the comic operetta, "The Merry Widow," included Hanna Glawari, the widow of a wealthy Pontevedrian banker, and Danilo Danilowitsch, first secretary to the embassy.

Throughout the opera, we learn that Danilo and Hanna love each other, but are separated by the political and social consciences of their times.

Possible suitors always surround Hanna; however, the ambassador Baron Zeta is determined to make sure that she marries within "the country."

His concern is that her substantial inheritance will go to a foreign husband and thus toward another country's wealth.

Although the acting was entertaining, and the costumes eye-catching, the dialogue was the key to the audience's understanding of the plot.

The actors performed mostly in opera; and without the super titles projected above the stage, the audience would have been at a loss to follow the story line.

Those who paid close attention could follow a sub-plot involving Baron Zeta's young wife and a young French officer, Camille de Rossillon.

The two are apparently having an affair, but the Baron chooses to pay more attention to finding Hanna a decent husband.

In the first act, the Baron decides that Danilo should make an ideal husband, but Danilo insists that he would not make a very good suitor because he still frequents Maxim's, a local club that employs showgirls.

It was difficult to understand the subplot between Valencienne, the wife of the Baron, and Camille. The two were obviously having an affair; but, because of the way the actors spoke and sang the arias, it was hard to follow the details of their relationship.

Camille has written the words, "I love you," on Valencienne's fan, but she lost it. The baron finds the fan, but has no idea it belongs to his wife.

Because of the baron's clerk, it was hard for the audience to tell whom the characters were involved with. The character confused viewers with his attempts at comic relief, and muddled the subplot.

The next act took place at a Pontevedrian garden party. The scenery for the party consisted of white lawn furniture and a gazebo, which represented a pavilion where Valencienne and Camille meet to continue their affair.

The Baron was the most convincing of all of the actors. He was the only character who was able to amuse the audience. From his physique to his posture to his voice, he carried his character through the struggling opera.

Hanna, though the main character, was difficult to listen to. Her voiced carried in a shrill, displeasing note over the darkened audience. Even though she projected her words away from listeners, the volume was enough to distort her words. Without the super titles, her solos would have been unbearable.

Danilo, the most prospective husband, was probably the most lovable character. He made the audience sympathize with his attempts to not confess his love for Hanna. However, in the scenes where the two danced, his gestures proved his acting skills by gaining the audience's sympathy.

Overall, "The Merry Widow" was difficult to sit through. But, with the performance of a few talented actors, the story and its humor, made the operetta interesting. Don't waste Spring Break money on this one.

 

Purdue Exponent 2002