Contents |
THE ELIXIR OF LOVE
This hilarious opera will have you under its spell! A shy young man, with nothing to his name, falls in love with a rich and beautiful woman. Will a con artist’s “magic elixir” be enough to win her affections? Or will true love need to work its magic? Donizetti’s delightful comedy is filled with music that’s sure to enchant.
February 15,16,22,23, 2008 8:00 pm
February 17* & 24, 2008 2:00 pm
Debbie Niezgoda, Director
Joseph Sorge, Music Director
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Original Lyrics by Felice Romani
Cast
- Nemorino - John Day (Feb 16, 22, 23) , G. Stephen Stokes (Feb 15, 17, 24)
- Adina - Denise Young
- Belcore - Doug Benton (Feb 15, 22, 24), Tad Czyzewski (Feb 16, 17, 23)
- Dr. Dulcamara - Blair Eig (Feb 15, 22, 24), Rob Ritter (Feb 16, 17, 23)
- Gianetta - Patricia Portillo
Ensemble:
Grace Brigham, Katie Caughlan, George Cooper, Fernando Delgado, Alex Desjardins, Gaye Freese, Noah Friedlander, Gayle Gillespie, Tara Hockensmith, Rand Huntzinger, Ralph Johnson,Stephen Kent, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Don Mitchell, Sherry Mitchell, Debbie Peetz, Carla Rountree, Pamela Sears-Rogan, Madeleine Smith, Rusty Suter, John Turner,
Production Staff
Stage Director - Debbie Niezgoda
Music Director - Joseph Sorge
Asst Director - Pablo Zylberglait
Asst Music Director - Jenny Bland
Producer - Denise Young
Stage Manager - Felicity Ann Brown
Set Designer -
Lighting Designer - Joe Palamara
Costume Designer - Denise Young
Makeup Designer - Renee Silverstone
The Story
ACT One Nemorino, a shy and simple young farmer is in love with Adina, a wealthy country girl. But Adina is willful, and his offers of love are constantly rejected. Adina has just come across the legend of the potion which bound Tristan and Isolde with undying love and reads it aloud to amuse the others. A platoon of soldiers enters, headed by the handsome Sergeant Belcore. He begins to woo Adina, and in spite of his self-assurance and arrogance, she is flattered; however, to his hasty proposal of marriage she answers that she would like a little time to think it over. Nemorino, naturally, is very jealous and when everyone else leaves, he begs Adina to return his love, but in vain; she prefers to remain fancy free. Dr. Dulcamara, an itinerant potion peddlar, arrives on the village square, and, before the assembled villagers, he sings the praises of his wonderful remedy, guaranteed to cure all ills. Nemorino is impressed and asks whether he also sells the love potion of Queen Isolde. Naturally Dulcamara obliges him, but warns him that the potion will take effect only after twenty-four hours -- which will give him enough time to leave town -- and that no one must know about it. Nemorino is now so pleased and sure of himself that Adina is surprised to find him in a cheerful and confident mood; he assures her that his heart will be cured within one day. In a fit of pique, she then tells Belcore that she will marry him in six days' time. Nemorino is not worried; he knows that tomorrow she will fall at his feet. But a message reaches Belcore with an order to leave the village in the morning, so Adina agrees to marry him that very day. Nemorino is desperate, but his pleas to Adina to postpone the wedding for just one day are all in vain. She invites everyone to the marriage feast, and they all mock the distraught Nemorino.
ACT Two The marriage feast prior to the wedding is in progress at Adina's farm and Dulcamara is among the guests. When the notary arrives, Adina hesitates to sign the marriage contract, as Nemorino is not there and her vengeance would not be complete without him. As the company goes off elsewhere, he enters and finding Dulcamara alone, asks for help. Dulcamara prescribes another dose of his remedy, but Nemorino has no more money. The doctor gives him a quarter of an hour to find it. Belcore enters and persuades Nemorino to enlist in his platoon if he wants money, commenting to himself with glee that to enlist one's own rival is quite a clever stroke. Nemorino accepts in the hope of winning Adina's love before having to leave. The news is spreading throughout the village that Nemorino's rich uncle has died, leaving him sole heir. All the village girls surround Nemorino, who believes this to be the effect of the potion. Adina is astonished at his popularity, and so is Dulcamara, who tells her about the potion. She is deeply moved, especially when she hears that Nemorino has sold his freedom for her. She realizes that she is, in fact, in love with him. Nemorino notices that she is weakening and is delighted. When Adina comes back with the enlistment papers, which she has just bought from Belcore, she admits to Nemorino that she loves him; and when Dulcamara lets slip the news he has just heard about the legacy, Nemorino's happiness is complete. Dulcamara, of course, attributes all his fortune to his own magic elixir, and the villagers rush to buy it. Finally everyone except Belcore blesses him as he triumphantly leaves the village.