Stephen Schwartz's SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON to Play Opera Queensland

Stephen Schwartz has announced his most recent venture, an opera version of Mark McShane's novel of the same name. SEANCE recently closed October 4th after a three performance run at the Santa Barbara Opera.

SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON received mixed reviews from LA critics, with the LA Times saying it lacked a "tonally tense score", whereas Variety called it "terrifically involving and entertaining." No dates have been announced for the run at Queensland.

The plot surrounds Myra Savage, a self-styled medium who holds séances in her dreary home. Her husband Bill, unable to work full-time, for being asthmatic, assists in his wife's séances. At Myra's instigation, Bill kidnaps the young daughter of a wealthy couple, confining her in a room (in the Savage home) dressed as a hospital ward. Myra dresses as a nurse to deceive her to believing she is hospitalised; yet, Myra insists she is "borrowing" the girl to demonstrate her psychomancy to a police investigator in helping him find the missing girl, however, her plan goes awry as her unsteady mental health begins to fray.

The novel was made into a feature film in 1964, directed by Bryan Forbes. The cast starred Richard Attenborough, Kim Stanley, Nanette Newman, Mark Eden, and Patrick Magee. Stanley won the Best Actress Award from the New York Film Critics Circle and was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Myra Savage.

Stephen Schwartz is the celebrated composer-lyricist of "Godspell," "Pippin," "The Magic Show," "The Baker's Wife," "Rags," "Children of Eden," "Wicked," and, with Alan Menken, songs for the films "Pocahontas," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and "Enchanted."

Opera Queensland is the second largest opera company in Australia. Each year the company presents at least three major operatic productions in Brisbane and numerous smaller productions, concerts and tours of operatic and lighter musical material in other venues throughout Queensland.

A range of other activities allows us to celebrate opera and develop interest in the artform throughout all parts of the community. Through the Education program, children and young adults are introduced to opera in performance and the creative process of making opera. Our annual Regional Tour visits centres large and small across Queensland, and a community outreach program provides free performances at public venues such as shopping malls, RSL and other clubs, sporting grounds and racecourses. Choice Voices entertains the corporate, hospitality and convention markets with tailored concerts that showcase Queensland vocal talent. The Young and Developing Artist Programs assist outstanding young performers to refine their professional skills through a year of intensive coaching and performance opportunities.

 

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