A Diva and Three Eager Students. What could go wrong?
Watching Joan Almedilla’s performance as Maria Callas in Terrance McNally’s Master Class at Sierra Madre Playhouse’s newly renovated theatre made me realize how I have been missing seeing Opera productions, especially those of the late 19th century masters like Verdi and Puccini.?
?Maria Callas was noted as much for her overwrought musicality as her high strung off-stage personal life.? But, it is McNally’s tender evocation of the notoriously neurotic Callas that is most important. In this short, Master Class format, McNally examines her commanding persona, interpolated with flash-backs, to understand how she got that way.
?Almedilla as Callas is hardly a look-alike, but she is suitably formidable playing Callas in her stint as a commanding instructor at Julliard. For me, the best part of the play rests with the musicality provided by the three students who have signed up for a grilling from the Diva.?? Timid Joanna Kim as Sophie is the first soprano, exquisitely performing an aria from Verdi.? However, Sharon (Francesca Ling), who arrives in full-on formal wear complete with cleavage, is so intimidated that she runs off in short order.? Lastly, the tenor, Tony (Kurt Kanazawa) is a marvel.? Holding both Diva and students together, Joshua Foy as the accompanist (and also the music director) is a sardonic presence, while great comic relief is provided by Ricardo Mota as the stagehand, who is both intimidated by and thanked by La Callas.?
??This production, masterfully directed by former East/West head, Tim Dang, takes full advantage of the technology at the playhouse, with full scale projects flowing over the stage, augmenting historical video and slides (in collaboration between set designer Christopher Scott Murillo, and lighting designer, Lily Bartenstein) .? Kudos to Sierra Madre Playhouse for getting back into the play-making business.? I look forward to the next one!
Master Class has one more weekend:?Friday?at?8 p.m.,?Saturday?at?2 and? 8 p.m.?and?Sunday?at?4 p.m.?through?March 9th. The The Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at?87 W.?Sierra Madre Blvd?in?Sierra Madre,?CA?91024. Tickets ?range from $12 - $45,? For tickets and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit?www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.?
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