If you've read this blog for any amount of time it should be apparent that I have an equal appreciation for things considered high culture and low (hence the original name of the blog few if any will remember). Imagine my delight then, when I learned this morning that the Ray of Light Theatre Company is about to launch the West Coast premiere of Jerry Springer- the Opera. It's another one of those all-too-rare best of both worlds kind of events for me, like last month's live performance by the San Francisco Symphony of the Psycho score performed during a screening of the film.
This however, has the promise to be even better. The press release from Ray of Light states the following: Jerry Springer - the Opera "is the only work in British history to win all of their Best Musical awards: Olivier Awards, Critic's Choice, Evening Standard, and What's On Stage (along with many others). This bold, controversial show mixes high art and low culture — opera and daytime television — in an operatic farce that’s by turns hilarious and heartbreaking. At first, talk-show host Jerry Springer seems to be having an ordinary day — outrageous guests, sordid secrets and a media-hungry audience. But after a surprise visit from Satan, Jerry’s soul becomes the battle ground for an epic battle of good versus evil. Featuring such timeless classics (ha!) as ‘Every Last Mother F***er Should Go Down’, ‘Talk to the Hand’, ‘Chick with a D**k’ and the roof-raising ‘I Just Wanna Dance’, the show is uproariously funny and honest to a fault. In other words, get ready for the musical ride of your life!"
What could be more fun? I've arranged for my tickets and I strongly suggest you get yours. It's a six week run, 09/10 through 10/16 at the Victoria Theater- a 500 seat house in the Mission district that's the oldest theater in the City and has been completely renovated to its original glory. And yeah, you can bring drinks into the theater, because really, for this kind of show, how could it be any other way? The quick and the enterprising can score some discounted tickets here. If those are all gone, you can also get tickets here.
Stay tuned, because I'm more excited about this than anything happening at the War Memorial this fall except for the Makropoulos Case. If you want to see who's in it, go here. Opera and incest- I can't wait, especially since it doesn't look like we'll be seeing Stravinsky's version of the subject anytime soon at that other house. Well, I hope there's incest- because that's entertainment!
Die Walkure isn't enough operatic incest for you?
ReplyDeleteNot to rain on your parade, but . . . have you heard the music? It's very Lloyd-Webberish.
I think I'll need to hand in my Wagnerite credentials because I didn't even think of Die Walkure when I wrote that.
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't heard the music Mr. Rain on my Parade (and I've had more of that today than I can really stand!). ALW ripped off what- Turandot or something right? While I loathed Phantom, perhaps there is something catchy in it ala JCS? One can only hope, though at the moment I'm firmly against such airy-fairy notions. Ask me on another day. I still expect it to be a fun show.
There's also Judith Weir's Blonde Eckbert, if you're looking for even more operatic incest.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first heard about Jerry Springer the Opera, I was thrilled. A co-worker (and opera fan) announced that this was the end of Western Civilization, and I vigorously disagreed, asking if she'd ever seen L'Incoronazione di Poppea. I even ordered the CD from England. It dampened my enthusiasm. I'm just sayin'. I might still go -- it probably works better on stage. I just thought the music would sound more like . . . opera. Any opera.
PS It was Fanciulla that Lloyd Weber ripped off for Phantom. An hommage!
You'll have to tell me more about Blonde Eckbert. I skipped Poppea the last time it was here which was what 12 years ago or something.
ReplyDeleteI think you should go, if for no other reason that my own selfish one for thinking your post about it would probably make for delightful and entertaining reading.