BWW Reviews: Miners Alley's MASTER CLASS - Terrific Talent!

Miners Alley Playhouse presents Terence McNally's operatic classic MASTER CLASS, playing now through April 1st. This show follows the extraordinary, heartbreaking life of legendary opera star Maria Callas as she reflects on her past, educates students, and torments stagehands as she conducts a master voice class at Juilliard.

Some of my fondest memories of my Grandmother, and of growing up in Germany, revolve around the opera. Every Sunday, my Oma and I would get all dressed up and go to the gorgeous Opera House in Wiesbaden and experience the theatrical majesty of all the great works (Barber of Seville, Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute, Carmen, and more). Those memories grew even more vivid as I watched this stellar production. In this show, you are not simply a member of the audience; you are part of the “class.” This is a prime example of an audience interactive strategy done extremely well. And while this show is about the life of Maria Callas and the dramatic world of opera, and will therefore resonate with a specific audience, it’s also fun for anyone who enjoys a good story. It’s veru divertente! (Very entertaining)!

From the first lines that exit her mouth, it’s obvious Callas (a brilliant Marcia Ragonetti) is a take charge, caustic, competitive, larger-than-life diva, all of which supports the rawness and intrigue of McNally’s insightful script. Callas’ interactions with her first student, Sophie, are funny and enjoyable. Her speech about one-time lover Aristotle Onassis is memorable and mesmerizing, and her reflections on her past are heartfelt and painful. The scene with her tenor is short, but very tender and telling. The funniest scene is with Callas’ final student, Sharon (not going to spoil it here). In a nutshell, each segment offers a glimpse into the life of one of the most iconic opera performers of the 20th century. Her often tumultuous life is illustrated through the solid voice work of the entire cast, but most especially Ragonetti, whose stage presense is truly stunning. Her final speech about life on the stage is delivered with such honesty I think every artist who hears it can relate to the tragedies and joys of the creative endeavors we undertake. As she boldly states, "It's all in the music, just listen!"

Marcia Ragonetti is the very embodiment of Callas, an eerie reanimation of this demanding diva. I asked Ms. Ragonetti after the show how many times she’s played this role and was astonished to learn this was her first! She’s a natural, owning the role and making it her own; the Italian drips off her tongue perfectly and caustically. Molto buona! (Very good)! Kelly Twedt as student #1 is earnestly adorable and possesses an incredible set of pipes. Ditto Alex Sierra, who took time delivering his accent-heavy lines so we could experience the full effect of what he had to say. Boni McIntyre as student #2 is delightful and funny (see “incredible set of pipes” note above). Director Robert Kramer did a magnifico job finding the right talent for this show. The cast chemistry is synergistic and complimentary. I had to smile at how the classic rivalry between sopranos and tenors is “lovingly” played out. The set, by designer Richard H. Pegg, is simple in its design (a piano and chair on the stage), but is also lovely and thoughtful. The beautiful costumes (designer Paige Larson) are diverse, from regal to unpretentious, colorful to tacky.

Unfortunately, in today's modern, fast-paced, technologically-bound society, it seems the opera is a dying medium. I would love to be proven wrong on this point and see more opera-themed shows being produced throughout the greater Denver area (hint, hint, fellow thespians). So if think you couldn’t possibly be a fan of opera (for whatever silly reason), I’d encourage you to let this meraviglioso (wonderful!) show change your mind! Support Miners Alley Playhouse and see MASTER CLASS for yourself, playing in Golden, CO through April 1st. For tickets or information, contact Miners Alley box office at 303-935-3044 or online at www.minersalley.com. Ciao for now, fellow stage travelers!

 

 

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