The Real Book of Gig is
described as “a tragic jazz opera”.
I’m not so sure about the opera part, but “tragic” and “jazz”
are certainly apt terms for the production.
The Moravian College Theatre Company, the college's theater club featured the world
premiere of this play on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12 at Foy Hall. I saw
the Saturday performance, and the hall was pretty full, so I figured that with
this kind of turn out, it had to be good.
The chorus and the actors did a phenomenal job, balancing
their singing with their acting parts. My only gripe is that it was difficult
to hear what the chorus was singing, which unfortunately included key plot
elements to the otherwise vague and at times confusing story. Part of it was
the trouble in understanding 8-10 people singing at once, and part of
it was in hearing them over the talented but very loud jazz band that served as
the orchestra for the opera.
As for the production itself, when it wasn’t vague and when
I could understand what was going on (this usually coincided with me being able
to hear the chorus), it was definitely a very tragic, heartbreaking play. The
opera follows the life of Gig, a musical prodigy who sets out to be a jazz
singer. He becomes quite successful, at least for awhile. The same can’t be
said for his love life.
He marries his first love, Chiara, and they have twin sons.
But with Gig being out on the road so much, Chiara grows lonely and desperate
as she tries to raise two sons alone. Unable to see any other way out, she
commits suicide.
So, did anyone see the play? Any thoughts on it if you did?
No comments:
Post a Comment