For the last several holiday* seasons, Skylark Opera Theatre has been presenting a modern one-act English-language opera. They're continuing that tradition this year with the
one-weekend-only performance of The Christmas Spider, based on a Ukranian folktale. The super sweet story of a poor family finding miracles in nature and kindness has been turned into a beautiful and accessible opera. It would be the perfect introduction to opera for kids, with a sparse 45-minute runtime and two adorable and talented children in the cast. But no matter your age, it's a heart-warming and moving piece that as always is gorgeously performed by Skylark. Catch one of the four remaining performances at The Lowry Lab Theater inside St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists in downtown St. Paul, which is particularly pretty right now with all of the lights and the recent snowfall. It makes for a very festive outing.
The story is a simple one. A poor widow named Federov and his two children barely have enough food to eat or wood for the fire, so the kids play games to keep themselves warm. Their landlady, Miss Petrina, is asking for the rent and Federov doesn't have the money. She gives him five more days, and the family celebrates Christmas with a small tree that Federov chopped down and gifts gathered from nature. When they discover a spider on the tree, the children are at first afraid, but then make friends with her. Christmas morning arrives with miracles all around, coming from unexpected places, and the lesson of kindness that Federov has taught his children.
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Karin Wolverton and Anthony Potts with Eve Scharback
and Emilia Kaplan (photo by Jeff Newcomer) |
The two professional adult performers, Anthony Potts and Karin Wolverton, both sing gorgeously and convey all of the emotions of their characters, but the child actors steal the show. Emilia Kaplan and Eve Scharback join the cast of
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (also closing this weekend just a few blocks away at Park Square) as the cutest kids on stage. To learn a new modern opera is tricky for professionals, and these two make it look easy and natural, singing their little hearts out as they embody this story of two sweet and sometimes bickering siblings. Like those
Pageant kids, they're just so pure and sweet and real, it warms the heart.
The Lowry Lab is such a sweet intimate space for opera; you're so close to it, with nothing coming between your ears and the music. Music Director and pianist James Barnett leads the four-piece orchestra sitting just off to the side of the stage, along with Alex Ritchie and Siena Forest providing additional vocals for a fuller richer sound. The librettist John de los Santos also directs the piece and brings out all of the heart of the story. The set looks like a spare and rustic, yet homey cabin, the family dressed in worn clothing and the landlady in fur.
If you need a little Christmas spirit on the last weekend before the big day, you can find it in downtown St. Paul and The Lowry Lab. A message of kindness, generosity, gratitude, and love, beautifully delivered.
