Opera for everyone Opera for everyone (May 30, 2003)

West Bay Opera's 'La Perichole' is fun and entertaining

by Kelly Snyder

A nyone with a notion that going to the opera is a stuffy, dreary night of oversized performers standing around and bellowing their lungs out, really needs to check out West Bay Opera's current production of Jacques Offenbach's "La Perichole." To be sure, "La Perichole" is not strictly opera, but this French operetta is very fun, very funny and very entertaining from start to finish.

To begin with, stage director Daniel Helfgot gets the most from his gifted cast, and while the high-spirited high jinks completely eschew any subtlety or finesse, that's hardly a concern for this production. The libretto, sung in Donald Pippin's witty, knowing translation, is preposterous enough by itself. When hitched to a Marx Brothers-style staging, it makes for a wild, occasionally bumpy and ultimately satisfying ride.

The plot centers on a street singer, La Perichole (Layna Chianakas), and her lover, Piquillo, to whom she would be married, but they cannot scrap together the necessary four pesos for a marriage license. Upon their arrival in Lima, Perichole catches the attention of Don Andres, the viceroy of Peru and an accomplished womanizer. The ensuing complications, misunderstandings and resolution are all suitably preposterous, and inspired Offenbach to compose a score rich in melody, variety and energy.

To his credit, while Helfgot turns his cast loose on the opera and allows a good deal of scenery chewing, he also knows when to back off and allow for the contrasting moments of poignancy and introspection. Particularly touching was Perichole's letter scene. Set to one of Offenbach's most fetching melodies, Chianakas delivered it with consummate grace and sincerity.

Indeed, Chianakas could have been the reason for staging this production in the first case, so completely did she inhabit the vivacious, resourceful character. She commanded the stage from the moment she appeared, vamping, flirting, conniving and tearing up the stage with unbounded energy and flair -- and all the while singing effortlessly, with a luscious, full tone. She may have sacrificed the vocal line for comic effect more often than necessary, but it was much in keeping with the production. Her English diction was also impeccable, as was that of most of the soloists.

As her lover, Piquillo, Colby did not command the same generous vocal resources as Chianakas, but his was a performance to savor just as much. Within the unbridled comic goings-on, he handled Piquillo's predicament with a light touch, keeping the character touchingly sincere, if just a bit goofy, without getting either too clownish or too maudlin. With his bright, lyric tenor, Colby sang with stylish security and nimble articulation.

The third principal, Robert Perlas Gomez, sang the role of Don Andres with his trademark stalwart, sturdy tone and unstinting fullness of voice. He too had plenty of fun with the role's comedic shtick and swaggering bravado.

Michael Morris excelled as the sniveling, obsequious Don Pedro, mayor of Lima, as did Mark Hernandez Panatellas as the First Gentleman of the Bedchamber. As the trio of young ladies and proprietresses of the local bar, Heidi Moss, Amy Stalcup and Ariela Morgenstern provided plenty of sauciness to the production, as well as some fine ensemble singing.

In the Act One finale, Ken Malucelli and Eric Wenburg turned in a couple of hilarious performances as the notaries presiding over a wedding. And in the final act, Rick Rubenstein was a delightfully droll old prisoner.

Conductor Barbara Day Turner led a fast-paced, tightly controlled performance and the orchestra gave the score plenty of energy and zest to match the staging. The West Bay Opera chorus joined in the fun with lively, lusty performances, many of which were nicely individualized.

With such a lively, frothy production, West Bay Opera should certainly attract a solid audience. For opera newcomers, it's a delightful introduction; for regular opera-goers, it's a refreshing change from the usual repertory.

What: West Bay Opera presents "La Perichole" in English with supertitles (sung in French). Composed by Jacques Offenbach, with libretto by Henry Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy, "La Perichole" will mark a West Bay Opera premiere.

Where: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

When: Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Cost: Tickets are $42, with a special $21 youth ticket (for those under 18) for the Sunday matinee only.

Info: Call (650) 424-9999 or visit www.wbopera.org.