Review: Street Scene, An Opera North Production at The Lowry*

The Opera is so iconic with its clear use of all the chorus, as opposed to just a soprano or tenor. The whole cast are the stars, each portraying strong character background which means that you are connected with each of their stories. They each represent different families from different countries that all now live wholeheartedly in this small block in New York. The set is staged with several sets of stairs that each lead to a different apartment door. This allows you to feel how their forced community works together, in this confined space in the bustling streets of New York during the 1940s. You see how they are trying to be patriotic Americans but are still so connected with their motherlands, and how they are trying to adapt to this different way of life.

The story follows a typical Opera narrative, of love and tragedy, however, it incorporates all the families within the ’Street Scene’, so although the story follows closely the Maurrant family, you see how their lives impact on the lives of the families around them, and how their drama becomes part of everyone’s drama.   This is clearly the strength of this Opera. The sounds as the whole casts sing together to portray all these feelings into the music becomes haunting and magical at the same moment. The use of the whole cast singing at the same time felt powerful and with the use of clear lyrics, it was beautiful it more ways than most other Operas.

The one stand out songs was sung by Rose Maurrant (played by Gillene Butterfield) was ‘What good would the moon be’ – Here are some of the lyrics.

What good would the moon be
Unless the right one shared it’s beams
What good would dreams come true be
If love wasn’t in those dreams

You can see how poetic the whole performance is, just from these lyrics. However, in contrast, there were also some really comical songs. The one that really tickled me was about ice cream and sung by the whole chorus. It was describing temptation and not giving in to it, which referred directly to one of the wives in Opera and her temptation of having an affair. Throughout the Opera, the songs and scenes cleverly incorporated fun with difficult topics, that must have been part of the new lives of these immigrants in this strange and busy City.

Opera North has again given us a delightful Opera, that is modern and different. It did have a few scenes within it that perhaps felt unnecessary, but the quality of the performers and the orchestra was unquestionable. They had unbelievably flawless voices and the incorporation of music, dance and speaking really meant that you could follow this deeply complex story of the immigrant families. The set was simple but completely effective and managed to create layers with its different heights that were created from the use of stairs. This allowed the opera singers to be placed at different points which changed how the opera carried across the stage and audience. In addition were the amazing costumes, which not only were not only 1940’s styled but also incorporated the nationalities of the families and showed how they might have dressed during this time. It’s ever likely that in 1947 it won Best Original Score at the very first Tony Awards. This really is an Opera not to be missed.

CAST

Giselle Allen – ANNA MAURRANT
Robert Hayward – FRANK MAURRANT
Gillene Butterfield – ROSE MAURRANT 
Alex Banfield – SAM KAPLAN
Miranda Bevin – GRETA FIORENTINO
Christopher Turner – LIPPO FIORENTINO
Claire Pascoe – EMMA JONES
Richard Mosley-Evans – GEORGE JONES
Michelle Andrews – MAE JONES
Rodney Vubya – DICK MCGANN
Amy J Payne – OLGA OLSEN
John Savournin – CARL OLSEN
Byron Jackson – HENRY DAVIS (LEEDS)
Jo Servi – HENRY DAVIS (TOUR)
Quirijn de Lang – HARRY EASTER
Stuart Laing – DANIEL BUCHANAN
Dean Robinson – ABRAHAM KAPLAN
Laura Kelly-McInroy – JENNIE HILDEBRAND

CREATIVES

James Holmes – CONDUCTOR
Matthew Eberhardt – DIRECTOR
Francis O’Connor – SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
Howard Hudson – LIGHTING DESIGNER
Gary Clarke – CHOREOGRAPHER

How much are the tickets?

Tickets are priced from £15 to £79.50, the production is said to run for 2 hours and 45 minutes. Click here to find out more.

Where to see it?

It is now showing at Theatre Royal, Nottingham – but Opera North has several performances throughout the year at The Lowry – check out their website for more details here.

The Lowry is a registered charity committed to using visual and performing arts to enrich people’s lives. They present audiences with a diverse programme of theatre, opera, musicals, dance, music, comedy and visual art as well as events and activities to expand the horizons of audiences and artists alike.  At the heart of their work is a commitment to the local communities and young people. Tapping into the work on their ur stages and in their galleries, they offer thousands of free creative participation opportunities each year. They are passionate about nurturing talent, developing creative professionals of the future and raising aspirations.

Things to note: 
• The Lowry welcomes all visitors regardless of their disability and strives to meet all individuals needs where possible.
• They welcome assistance dogs.
• The Lowry website is fully accessible and features BrowseAloud. Browsealoud adds speech, reading and translation support, facilitating access and participation for those people who need support reading print, dyslexia, low literacy, mild visual impairments and those with English as a second language. To use this feature, simply click on the grey ear logo located in the footer.
• If you are driving to the show, we would recommend for you to park at The Lowry Outlet which is opposite the theatre, but be aware as there is lack of signage from the car park area to the theatre, so best to ask someone or use google maps to find your way.
• The Lowry also have a maximum bag size – check on their website for the exact dimensions – generally small handbags are fine.
• You may also be asked by security for random bag searches – this is for your safety at the venue

About Opera North

Opera North is a national opera company based in Leeds and is a leading UK arts organisation. Rooted in the North of England, international in outlook, they create extraordinary experiences, every day.  Their award-winning work tours to theatre stages and concert halls throughout the North and beyond, including to London and major international festivals, and they curate an eclectic artistic programme of gigs, concerts, spoken word and film in the Howard Assembly Room. Their aim is to make bold, innovative, ambitious work and share it in new ways. Opera North believes opera and music are for everyone and champions diversity in artists, repertoire and audiences. Opera North Education connects with communities and inspires each generation, aiming to enhance the health and well-being of people in the communities where we work through arts participation and performance.  Opera North is grateful for the generous support of Arts Council England and Leeds City Council, sponsorship from the private sector, trusts and individuals, the Friends of Opera North, the Opera North Future Fund and the box office income from its audiences, which allows us to continue to mount our award-winning work.

Review by: Lex Ward

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