Mixed Precipitation's Pickup Truck Opera is back for the fourth year. Their unique mashing up of a classic opera with a particular genre of pop music, performed outside in parks all around the state of Minnesota, is a delightful #TCTheater summer tradition. They make opera accessible and fun. With a modern adaptation of the story, the opera bits are performed in the original language (in
Charles Gounod's Faust - French) with surtitles charmingly displayed on scrolls manually revealed. And the pop songs (here the songs of '80s British band Depeche Mode) are well chosen to fit into the story. It all adds up to a lot of fun, especially when you have a perfect late summer evening. The Pickup Truck Opera (yes, there is an actual pickup truck) continues it's journey around Minnesota through September 15 -
click here to find a location near you.
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Justin Spenner and Maurice Fields
(photo by Anne Hendrickson) |
Playwright Max Yeshaye has given the story a sci-fi twist, with scientists and space travel. But the core story remains - the aging and desperate scholar Faust makes a deal with the devil Méphistophélès to win the love of fair Marguerite. In this version of the story she has a bit more agency, she's a scientist who invents an important thing, which unfortunately doesn't turn out so well. But despite the inherent tragedy of the story, there is lightness and hope in this retelling.
The intrepid cast performs in the open air without amplification, and they all sound gorgeous in addition to being playful and fun in the storytelling. Maurice Fields is an elegant Faust, Justin Spenner is a delightfully maniacal Méphistophélès, and Corissa Bussian is a sweet and sympathetic Marguerite (aka Margie). Other highlights in the cast include Nick Miller as Margie's heroic brother, and Jill Morgan as Margie's best friend who's (not so) secretly in love with them. Stage directors Scotty Reynolds and Jacob (Jäc) Miller keep the tone light and fun, and the story moving in about two hours (including a short intermission).
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Nick Miller and ensemble
(photo by Anne Hendrickson) |
Music Director and arranger Gary Ruschman leads the three-piece orchestra (including some rotating cast members) in playing both the opera and pop music, making both sound great. Sets and costumes have a charmingly DIY feel, including some futuristic tech equipment and fun worker jumpsuits with neon accents that glow in the stage lights as the natural light decreases (set and prop design by Alex Hathaway, costume design by Rhiannon Fiskradatz).
