THE TENDER LAND to 26 August.
London.
THE TENDER LAND
music by Aaron Copland libretto by Horace Everett.
Upstairs At The Gatehouse Highgate Village N6 4BD To 23 August
then Grimeborn Festival, Arcola Theatre 27 Arcola Street E8 2DJ To 26 August 2009.
Upstairs at The Gatehouse:
TICKETS: 020 8340 3488.
www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com
Arcola:
TICKETS: 020 7503 1646.
www.arcolatheatre.com
Runs 1hr 55min One interval.
Review: Geoff Ambler 23 August.
Lively American opera heats up The Gatehouse.
As lost opera rediscovered, Upstairs at Highgate’s Gatehouse The Tender Land seems an eccentric choice for a brief revival. It has enjoyed a tumultuous life since it was commissioned by Rodgers and Hammerstein, rejected by NBC before a revision and staging by the New York City Opera. It tells what seems at first to be a simple tale but is on reflection so much more than just a story of a young woman discovering her first, albeit brief, love.
Tender Land is a short opera and covers just a couple of days but it lovingly colours in the residents of a little community, enjoying the shared pleasures of their neighbours. It encompasses family love, community life, prejudices, pride and adolescent turmoil and as a counterpoint to young Laurie’s developing emotions, her younger sister Beth clutches a toy bear and dreams of having her own party dresses. All this is set in a post depression poor Midwest farming community, not far from where Swallow discovered the second coming in her barn, although Tender Land lacks both the accents and the rock.
While the score is occasionally hard work it is also uplifting, beautiful and really rather moving, as well as being wonderfully performed by both the orchestra and an exceptional cast. Amy Castledine captures the passion, energy and angst that Laurie discovers in herself and marvels during her duet with stranger and farmhand Martin (David O’Mahony). Martins moody companion Top (Anthony Flaum) brings a little edgy danger to both the party and the production.
With a simple circle of corrugated plastic and subtle, yet quite magical lighting, designer Hilary Statts conjures the heat of a Midwest American farm out of the darkness of a north London stage. Director Katherine Hare’s production is an energised worthy revival, bringing a fleeting love story with heartbreak and realism to the American opera.
Laurie Moss: Amy Castledine.
Grandpa Moss: Graham Stone.
Ma Moss: Natasha Dobie.
Beth Moss: Amie Clapson.
Martin: David O'Mahony.
Top: Anthony Flaum.
Mr Splinters: Dominic Brewer.
Mrs Splinters: Esther Biddle.
Mr Jenks: Damian Robinson.
Mrs Jenks: Eleanor Blythman.
Ensemble: Emily Jane Brooks, Stewart Charlesworth, Beth Davies, Joseph Wicks.
Director: Katherine Hare.
Designer: Hilary Statts.
Lighting: Howard Hudson.
Music Director: Leigh Thompson.
Choreographer: Fleur Mellor.
Assistant director: Dan Sherman.
2009-08-26 14:11:32