Sometimes, in the cultural life of this community, an event comes along that is so special that for years afterward, Islanders find themselves divided into two camps — those who saw it, and those who didn’t.
Vashon Opera’s debut production of “La Bohème,” which had a two-performance run at Vashon High School last weekend, was one of those things.
I was there, so I guess it’s my job now to tell everyone who wasn’t what they missed.
The problem is, magic is very hard to describe — how to describe the joy of hearing notes so brilliantly sung, music so beautifully played, and a story so magnificently told?
“La Bohème” is an opera that is so famous that almost everyone has at least an inkling of what it’s about, and most people who haven’t seen it tend to think of it as sad stuff — after all, it’s the story of a doomed lover affair between a poet and a sickly seamtress, who dies tragically at the end of the 4th act.
What could be more depressing than that?
But “La Bohème” isn’t depressing at all. It’s an affirmation about everything beautiful in life.
It’s the story of not having enough money to pay the rent, and being sick and cold, and creating lovely art despite it all.
It’s the story of how friendships bring the most extravagant riches, and how nothing in the world can compare to the thrill of finding true love and the agony of throwing it away.
It is, quite simply, the story of being young, and free, and aware of what matters most in life.
And as I sat in the audience, with tears welling up in my eyes at even the opera’s happiest and most comic moments, I thought how the real message of “La Bohème” is “seize the day.”
That’s also the story of the Vashon Opera Company.
Soprano Jennifer Krikawa seized the day when she decided to bring opera here, and recruited a hugely talented cast of regional stars to join her as she graced the stage in an unforgettable portrayal of Mimi, the leading role.
Tenor Karl Reyes seized the day as Mimi’s lover, Rodolfo, with muscular acting and other-worldly singing that conveyed both the bliss and torture that true love can bring. Andrew Krikawa, Cliff Watson, Michael Dunlap and Jonathan Silvia seized the day with strong voices and delightful touches of hilarity in their portrayals of Marcello, Schaunard, Colline and Benoit.
Elizabeth Ripley, who directed the opera, seized the day in her brilliant staging of the opera, as well as her lusty performance of Musetta, another principal role.
Local singers seized the day when they signed on to fill out the huge chorus of the opera, and Island musicians, led by musical director Evan Stults, seized the day with achingly beautiful accompaniment throughout.
Local funders seized the day when they got out their checkbooks to support Krikawa’s vision.
And finally, audience members seized the day, making the event a sold-out success that had the whole town buzzing.
Vashon Opera’s next productions, “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The Tender Land,” will be here before you know it. Go to www.vashonopera.org, and get tickets, right now. Seize the day.
— Elizabeth Shepherd is The Beachcomber’s arts editor.
