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Director doffs hat to Magritte

Jennifer Blackmer has strong affection for the surreal work of Belgian artist Rene Magritte.
Magritte created the iconic paintings of a man — his face covered by an apple — wearing a black bowler.
Audiences will see more than 20 similar-looking characters in the Anderson  University production of the comic opera “L’Etoile,” running this weekend at Byrum Hall.
Blackmer, who is an associate professor of theatre at Ball State University, is guest director of the opera.
Complementing the costumes, the set includes floating paintings of brilliant blue skies and white clouds, also based on Magritte’s works.
“He’s my favorite painter and I am also a huge fan of Samuel Beckett and Charlie Chaplin so the bowler hat has fit into my overall aesthetic. I use it whenever I possibly can.”
She added, “The whole thing was kind of my concept in creating this world — bowler hats and red ties.”
Blackmer, a playwright, is on sabbatical from BSU and currently in residence at Tennessee Repertory Theatre where she is developing a new play, “Alias Grace,” with Theresa Rebeck based on Margaret’s Atwood’s book.
— Scott L. Miley

If you go

What: “L’Etoile” (“The Lucky Star”) comic opera, sung in English with English surtitles above stage, with Jennifer Blackmer, guest director, and Fritz Robertson, music director.
When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Byrum Hall, Anderson University
Admission: Tickets available are box office; $15 for adults, $12 for senior and military, and $10 for students. Call the box office at 641-4351.

Related Photos

  • Actresses Chelsea Leis, left, and Carron Van Gronigen try to awaken a peddler, played by Kelsi Johnson, with a tickle in the Anderson University production of the opera “L’Etoile.” Performances are at 7:30 p.m. today and Thursday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Byrum Hall. Scott L. Miley

    FEA - HB0215 - AU Opera 1 - SM.jpg

  • King Ouf I, played by Mitchell Brown, believes he has found a subject to execute, a wandering peddler played by Kelsi Johnson, in the Anderson University production of the opera “L’Etoile.” Performances are at 7:30 p.m. today and Thursday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Byrum Hall. Scott L. Miley

    FEA - HB0215 - AU Opera 2 - SM.jpg

Discussion

February 14, 2013

AU opera lively with singing, costuming

Thank lucky stars for ‘L’Etoile’

By Scott L. Miley The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — Some operas set out to be silly.

“L’Etoile,” which is translated as “The Lucky Star,” accomplishes that goal while adding a visually alluring costuming at Anderson University.

Written in 1877 by Emmanuel Chabrier, the opera bouffe takes light jabs at French royalty and class. But under guidance of guest director Jennifer Blackmer, associate professor of theatre at Ball State University, audiences may be bowled over.

A fan of Belgian artist Rene Magritte (1898-1967), Blackmer has the AU performers wear a black bowler and red necktie a la Magritte’s surreal paintings of faceless men in black bowlers. The stunningly simple costumes (also thanks to Natalie Maenhout and Cindra Venturella) emphasize the sometimes nonchalant sometimes passionate nature of the characters.

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Byrum Hall.

In one of the simplest  operetta plots, King Ouf (a multi-talented Mitchell Bowen) has a double mission: have a subject killed as a birthday present to himself, and find a wife. Passing through town, separately, are Princess Laoula (a rich-voiced Carron Van Groningen) and wandering peddler Lazuli (Kelsi Johnson, ably handling the role of a male).

Lazuli’s solo dreams, wishing on a lucky star, form the theme.

There are other characters, of course. Everybody starts out in disguises but the real trick is making the parts flow so well and letting the students discover their own pacing.

Of the highlights, Bowen  and student Andrew Rohrabaugh, as astrologer Sirocco, are wicked funny as they imbibe a bit much.

And Johnson, Van Groningen (besides their own excellent pairing) and Chelsea Leis (with her magnificent smiles of glee) seem to enjoy tickling a bit much. But if they didn’t, we wouldn’t have such a good time watching them.

The music is often challenging but director Fritz Robertson’s crew keeps a tantalizing cadence throughout (watch for a hand in acting by Robertson).

In its two hours, the AU production of “L’Etoile” is a charming, fast-paced, English-language operetta that stays lively through quality performances and innovative costuming.

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