Photos by John McCarthy
A perfect day at the opera is a rare, sweet experience. It requires a lot: breathtaking vocal performances, elegant costumes, and an impressive orchestra.
Luckily, a perfect day at the opera is just what Central Coast Gilbert & Sullivan delivered with its production of The Sorcerer at the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cuesta College June 6-7.
The comic light opera is set in the village of Ploverleigh, where the town is celebrating the marriage of a young, wealthy couple.
The bridegroom Alexis (played by Tom Villa) staunchly believes that love should be supported outside of social rank, and hires a sorcerer to administer a love potion to the entire town. Each townsperson then falls in love with the first single person of the opposite sex they see, and, of course, shenanigans ensue.
The titular sorcerer, played by James Brescia, provides exactly what people love from Gilbert and Sullivan: fast-paced, tongue-twisting patter songs. His first, “My Name is John Wellington Wells,” would be a challenge for even the most experienced vocalist, but Brescia made it look easy with a smooth, articulate performance.
Rebecca McKinley was charming, sunny, and expressive as the bride Aline. As well as embodying the character brilliantly, McKinley turned in an impressive vocal performance, with sweet yet bold high notes that were a musical standout.
Aline’s noble but foolish husband is to blame for most of the hijinks that occur in The Sorcerer. But Villa’s impassioned, sentimental performance made Alexis surprisingly lovable, playing him as earnest, well-meaning, and endlessly dramatic, which is perfect for the style of the production.
Lindee Newman is hilarious and endearing as the lovesick Constance. Her pining for the local vicar Dr. Daly (David Trajan) was pure, playful melodrama, and Newman’s physical comedy made her a joy to watch. Furthermore, her crystal-clear vocals were as engaging as her acting performance.
Trajan’s deep, sonorous singing was a vocal highlight of the show. He turned in a deeply charming performance, making it hard not to love Dr. Daly.
Other standouts include Colin Toohey and Amelia DeCoster as Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre and Lady Sangazure. This stoic, sophisticated pair brought a great contrast to the rest of the characters, and it is a joy to see their real personalities shine through in their impressive duet.
One of the delights of this production was the large pit orchestra, conducted by Jennifer Martin, which honored Arthur Sullivan’s remarkable score with bright, passionate music underscoring the entire show.
Another impressive element was the costuming. With such a large cast, characters could start to blend together, but Karen Russu’s colorful, detailed costuming made each character distinctive, from the main cast to the townsfolk ensemble.
Under Marcy Irving’s direction, and with Paul Osborne’s vocal direction, Central Coast Gilbert & Sullivan created a show that shone with humor, charm, and musical mastery. The Sorcerer is one of the pair’s lesser-known works, but based on this production, it deserves far more attention.