Grand Opera, Vegas-Style

stay cool, daddy-o

Markand Thakar

According to Tennyson, “In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” Of course here in Spring (why does the good bard capitalize it?) it turns to cursing the forecast of scattered snow showers. But in Summer (if he can capitalize, I can too) it turns to the Duluth Festival Opera, which this year offers a concert production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. This opera may be the world’s most beloved, (and for good reason I might add), but for many it seems as impenetrable as Lithuanian handball or Richard Simmons’ Deal-A-Meal.

So, in the continuing effort to translate opera for popular consumption, Maestro’s Musings takes a whack at La Bohème.

Imagine Vegas, baby, 1961. Act I. Sammy and Joey join Frankie in his 25th-floor suite. From the window they see the strip covered in sand— yes, the annual winter sand-storm. The city’s shut down, and the booze is gone. They’ve all got the shakes… whatever shall they do? In desperation, Sammy cracks open a quart bottle of his signature aftershave, and they commence to taking swigs, when Dean blows in, with porters carrying hooch, shaved ice, and sliced limes. “Hepcats, I gotta tell ya. I did a boss gig for the main cat at Caterpillar, and he dug the whole joint out.” Joey: “That’s Coolsville, cats, let’s go paint the town.”

Frankie stays behind to finish up a phone call to his main man Paul. “Ya gotta write something for me, baby, ‘Our Way…Your Way,’ try somethin’.”

Knock on the door, “Ooh Frankie Baby, can you give me a taste? I’m hangin’ upstairs, and my pad is totally dry.” “Marilyn, you’re the most, baby. C’mon in.” Their eyes meet, they fall spectacularly in love. [Use your imagination here; this is a G-rated magazine.]

Act II. The boys are out on the strip. Frankie and Marilyn join them. They meet up with the Pack, and then with Sammy’s regular girl Kim, who’s flirting with her studio-head sugar daddy. They ditch the geezer, and a swingin’ time is had by all.

Act III. Marilyn talks to Dean, “I gotta split from Frankie. He’s so jealous, always asking about Jack, or Bobby, or Giancana….can’t a girl have a good time now and then?”

Act IV. Marilyn is strung out. Kim brings her up to Frankie’s digs. “Frankie, ya gotta do somethin’; she’s leavin’ us, man.” “Okay, kiddo, lemme lay some sounds on you.” [sings] “I’ve got you….under my skin, I’ve got you….deep in the heart of me.” “Frankie — she’s droppin’ fast” “I’d sacrifice anything come what might, for the sake of having you near.” “FRANKIE—SHE’S GONE.” “Use your mentality, wake up to reality.”

“She’s dead Frankie. Dead!” Curtain drops slowly. “Cause I’ve got you…under my skin.”

Take my word for it: the real La Bohème is MUCH better. The music will get under your skin, and stay there, and make you better. You can catch the DFO’s ‘radioactive’ performance with the DSSO at the DECC, on August 20 and 22. Like, crazy, Daddy-O.

Markand Thakar is Charles A. & Carolyn M. Russell Music Director, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra; music director, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra; principal conductor, Duluth Festival Opera and co-director of the graduate conducting program, Peabody Conservatory.