Orpheus in the Underworld (1998)

Jacques Offenbach's
Orpheus in the Underworld
Original Book and Lyrics by Hector Cremiux
Translation by Thomas Petiet

Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28 and Mar. 6 & 7, 1998 at 8pm
Mar. 1 & 8, 1998 at 2pm

Directed by Catherine Huntress-Reeve
Music Directed by Sharon Haugen

Cast

Aristeus/Pluto - Todd Allen Long
Cupid - Maris Wicker
Diana - Suzanne Mebane
Eurydice - Rebecca Ocampo (Feb. 19, 21, 26, 28 & Mar. 7)
Armour Ratcliffe (Feb. 20, 27, and Mar. 1, 6, & 8)
Orpheus - Sean Bajkowski
John Styx - John Perine
Juno - Winona Stanback
Jupiter - Gordon Brigham
Minerva - Julia Lukas Gorman
Public Opinion - E. Sullivan Dillon
Venus - Jeanne Mellish
Adonis, an Olympian to sigh for - Les Elkins
Aglaia, the bright Grace - Gina Nowacki
Apollo, god of the sun - Andy Krulwich
Atropos the inflexible, a Fate - Nancy Helman Shneiderman
Bacchus, god of wine - Joe Sorge
Calliope, Muse of pic poetry and Orpheus' mother - Donna Jaffe
Clio, Muse of history - Rusty Suter
Clothos the spinner, a Fate - Darlene Allen
Cybele, imported Phrygian goddess - Leta Hall
Erato, Muse of love poetry - Lisa Freese
Euterpe, Muse of lyric poetry and the flute - Debbie Peetz
Euphrosyne, the mirthful Grace - Deborah Zubow Prindle
Hebe, cup-bearer to the gods - Tamarisk Dana Cardwell
Hestia, goddess of hearth - Stephanie Brigham
Icarus, who flew too high - John Perine
Lachesis the apportioner, a Fate - Virginia Garber
Mars, god of war - Tony Rigopoulos
Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy - Osa Oyegun
Mercury, winged messenger of the gods - lra Haber
Morpheus, god of sleep - Tom Goode
Neptune, god of the sea - Barry Grinnell
Prometheus, who brought humatlkind fire - Lyle Jaffe
Terpsichore, Muse of the dance - Joy Ryan
Thalia, the festive Grace - Julie Repeta
Urania, Muse of astronomy - Gaye Freese
Vesta, goddess of the family - Sheoy Felice
Vulcan, the smith - Otarlie Johnson
Furies - Julieta Banan, Diane Sachacoff, Lisa Troshinsky

VLOC Appreciates

VLOC would like to extend its sincere thanks to:
Travis Callison, Christ Congregational Church, Comic Opera Guild (Michigan), Georgetown G&S Society, Mitchell Scott Gillett,
Hughes United Methodist Church, Rockville Musical Theater,
St. John's Episcopal Church, WETA, and WGMS.

Production Staff

Producer - Aroostine McDowell Long
Choreographers - Aroostine McDowell Long & Todd Allen Long
Artistic Director - Rosalie Saritilhano
Translator - Thomas Petiet, Comic Opera Guild (Michigan)
Stage Manager - Pamela Hodges
Assistant Stage Manager - Mollie Toms
Set and Properties Design - Anna K. Soderberg
Master Carpenter - Les Elkins
Lighting Design -Tom Reed
Costumers - Lisa Freese, Gaye Freese, Denise Young
Technical Director (Rockville Civic Center) - Kim Haug
Technical Crew - Tony Dwyer, Kerry Freese, Bill Rippey,
Anna K. Soderberg
Orchestra Manager - Amanda Laudwein
Rehearsal Pianist - Jenny Craley Bland
Make-Up - The Cast
Tickets and Box Office - Merle Haber
Program - Leta Hall
Greek Mythology Consultant - Gina Nowacki
Publicity - Ira Haber
Set Construction/Painting - Les Elkins, Sean Bajkowski, Tony Dwyer,
Sharon Haugen, Catherine Huntress-Reeve, David Kaysen, The Long Family, Debbie Peetz,
John Perine, Tony Rigopolous, Bill Rippey
Properties - Anna Soderberg
Videotaping - Falls Church Cable Television
Photography - Joel Hoffman
House Management - Denise Young (Feb. 19-21),
Kent Woods (Feb. 26- Mar. 1), Caroline Hummel (Mar. 6-8)
Refreshments - The Wooden Shoe Pastry Shoppe
Costume Storage - Donna & Lyle Jaffe
Set Storage - City of Gaithersburg, Maureen Roult,
& the Rockville Civic Center
Printing - Quick Printing, Inc.
Set Building Space - Rockville Civic Center

Orchestra

Violin - David Friedlander (concertmaster), Martin Brown,
Carolyn Larson, Willard Morris, Jon Teske, Otto Willim
Viola - David Zajic, Amanda Laudwein
Cello - Charles Finney, Sheryl Friedlander, Thurston Griggs
Bass - Sue Lyon, David Ross
Oboe - Gwen Earle
Flute - Susan Brockman, Louise Hill, Susan Moser
Clarinet - Eugene Sober, Sue Shapiro
Bassoon - Brett Louis
Trumpet - Bernard Rappaport, Curtis Amstine, Nicholas Sandifer
French Horn - Don Hunter, Lauren Krusberg
Trombone - Jim Stewart, Steven Ward
Percussion - George Huttlin
Piano - Jenny Craley Bland

Synopsis

Act I (Scene 1: A field in Greece, Scene 2: Mount Olympus)
The play is prefaced with poetry spoken by Public Opinion who warns of the dangers of marital infidelity. The opening finds Eurydice singing about a planned tryst with her lover, Aristeus, entitled "THE HAPPY WOMAN." Her husband Orpheus enters and they fight about her affair and his overly indulgent devotion to music. Orpheus and Eurydice sing "THIS IS THE END," expressing their mutual disgust. Eurydice asks for divine intervention to unite her with her lover, but Orpheus refuses to let her out of the marriage. Aristeus (actually Pluto in disguise) enters and sings his ballad, "WELL, HELLO, HERE I AM (THOUGH I LOOK A LITTLE FUNNY)", about his love of nature, fun, and Eurydice in particular. When Eurydice returns, Pluto reveals himself as the Lord of the Dead and convinces her to die so that they can be together whereupon she sings, "'TIS SMILING DEATH." Orpheus enters and is thrilled to find Eurydice's note indicating that she has gone to Hades. But Public Opinion shows up and reminds him that his is a "tragic myth." Public Opinion instructs him to go to Mount Olympus and ask Jupiter to help get Eurydice back. Orpheus and Public Opinion sing "COME, COME, THE IMMORTALS ARE WAITING."

On Mount Olympus the gods' chorus is found awakening to "THE SUN, THE SUN, THE DAY HALCYON," about the romantic adventures of the gods. Diana enters and sings "A SALUTE TO DIANA" with Jupiter and the chorus. She's lamenting the disappearance of her lover, Acteon, until Jupiter informs her that he changed Aceton into a stag, which she then shot. So she decides to laugh it off. Jupiter then admonishes the gods for their many romances. Knowing that Jupiter's own trysts are many, the gods find his directives hypocritical and consider rebellion. Mercury enters and informs the ensemble of Pluto's running off with Eurydice. Pluto arrives with the Furies, protesting his innocence of any "ravishment." The gods lament about their boring lives on Mount Olympus and talk of revolution in "TO ARMS, TO ARMS, OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES." Jupiter accuses Pluto of running off with Orpheus' wife, but is reminded of his own romantic record in "TO CAPTURE ALCMENE'S AFFECTIONS." Public Opinion appears with Orpheus, who is reluctantly attempting to get his wife back. Pluto leads the ensemble in singing "HE'S APPROACHING, HE'S ADVANCING TO CONFRONT ME," the beginning of the first act finale. Jupiter declares that he is going to Hades to get Eurydice, and all the ensemble ask to come with him to get away from the boredom of Mount Olympus. So it's agreed that all concerned will go to the Underworld.

Act II (Scene 1: Hades, Scene 2: The same)
The second act opens in Hades, in a small room where Eurydice is kept prisoner. Her disgusting, old, disfigured jailer John Styx declares that he is in love with her and sings of his former glory and his quick worldly demise in "WHEN I WAS RULER OF THE NATION." She quickly realizes that she can tum his affections to her advantage and attempts to get him drunk. He leaves to get more wine and Pluto and Jupiter show up outside her door. When Pluto lures John Styx away with the offer of a bottle of wine, Jupiter peeks through the keyhole and spies a lovely woman whom he instantly desires, not knowing that she is actually Eurydice, whom he came to Hades to rescue. Smitten, Jupiter turns himself into a fly and enters the room through the keyhole to woo her and the romantic duet, "THERE IS SOMETHlNG THAT lS HUMMlNG" ensues. Jupiter wins Eurydice's affections and reveals himself as the ruler of the gods. He then leaves quickly when John Styx returns with the wine. Eurydice succeeds in getting John Styx inebriated enough to steal his keys and escape. John Styx reprises his "WHEN I WAS RULER OF THE NATION" while Pluto laments having lost Eurydice. The gods' chorus enters and sings of their new found happiness and drunkenness in "TO WINE WE SING" in praise of Hades' new resident, Bacchus, god of wine and entertainment. A "HYMN TO BACCHUS" ensues, which is followed by the minuet, "THIS IS A CHARMING DANCE," and the can-can. Jupiter finally realizes that his new love is actually Eurydice. Orpheus and Public Opinion show up, with Public Opinion insisting iliat Orpheus and Eurydice be brought back together again. Pluto and Jupiter still botlt want Eurydice, however, and ask the gods to vote on her future. All the gods except Juno abstain on the vote, with Juno voting for Eurydice to return to Earth with Orpheus. So Eurydice and Orpheus reluctantly agree to follow Public Opinion's advice and Juno's solitary vote. However, there is a stipulation that Orpheus cannot look back at Eurydice while they are walking out of Hades as described by the chorus in "NOW BEGIN YOUR RETURN TO THE EARTH,'' the beginning of the second act finale. In an attempt to get Eurydice back, Jupiter ruts Orpheus with a thunderbolt, causing hint to look back on their way out of Hades. Thus Orpheus loses Eurydice, and Jupiter and Pluto soon begin threatening divine civil war in a fight for her. Public Opinion intervenes and decides that Eurydice must remain with John Styx.