The Elixir of Love: Saturated With Amore
McCullough Theatre, through Nov. 3
Running Time: 2 hrs, 20 min
Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera of love and love potions is dealt with sweetly in this all-student affair helmed by Robert DeSimone. Sung and acted with fine attention to the personal quirks and foibles of the characters, the production is a bright and colorful comedy for these dull, rainy days. The story concerns peasant boy Nemorino’s abject helplessness at being so love-struck by the rich — and seemingly unattainable — village girl Adina. To make matters worse, the local army sergeant, Belcore, has his sights on the lovely Adina, making Nemorino’s quest seem ever more futile. When a mysterious Dr. Dulcamara arrives with an elixir that will make Nemorino instantly attractive to all women everywhere, the young peasant gives the rogue traveling salesman his last dime for the dubious potion (really a cheap bottle of Bordeaux wine). Some surprising and fortuitous twists and turns lead to the unsurprising and fortuitous happy ending for all. Nemorino indeed becomes the ladies’ man he always dreamed he’d be (though not for the reason he suspects), finally winning his true love’s affections. Belcore gets as far with his targeted wife as a jaunty pre-wedding party before it all goes south for his chances with that particular maiden (not that he ultimately cares — surrounded as he is with dozens of alternatives). Adina, well, she might just have always had a place in her heart for dear Nemorino. And the good doctor? He happily rakes in the loot and scampers out of town.
This UT Opera Theatre production transplants the action from the Basque countryside of the original to a 1950s-era bottling distribution warehouse owned by Adina. The love story and comical bits translate nicely to this imaginative setting. Huge kudos must go to costume designer Glenda Maddox, who not only finds ways to pour color all over the set with the wonderful garb but takes her phenomenally saturated palette and still makes it crystal clear what, and who, every character is all about. Nicole Smith’s set allows for similarly colorful accents amid her whitewashed, two-story lumber warehouse — most notably, Dr. Ducarmara’s flying mode of transportation.
The young singers (who alternate performing the major roles from night to night with other student singers) make the most of the stock characters. In this particular performance, Joshua Sekorski makes a wonderful, strutting, cock-of-the-walk Belcore. Scott Preston Tomlinson is all smiling shyster as the good doctor. And Dana Zenobi shines as Adina, her neat, business-minded character not taken in by anything the men throw at her, yet slowly revealing her affections for that young peasant boy. As Nemorino, Gerardo Antonio Ramos brings warmth to the “bumpkin” delivery boy so besotted by Adina. If there are moments when it’s difficult to hear him over the full orchestra, he is nevertheless superb singing solo. All the singers prove gifted, although understanding the entire chorus is not always possible, despite the opera being sung in English. Still, DeSimone keeps the story clear, and his fine, young cast delivers the warmth and humor of this charming opera with colorful aplomb.
This article appears in November 1 • 2002.