There will be no fat ladies singing in Viking helmets or bizarre Wagnerian concepts at the opera this spring.
Instead, familiar issues such as prejudice and religious fanaticism will be reflected in an American opera set in the early 1900s.
The LSU Opera will present its spring semester full-length opera, “Susannah,” by Carlisle Floyd.
Director of LSU Opera Dugg McDonough said the opera will be sung in English and thinks students will find this opera more accessible than others.
“This is a fantastic first opera to see,” he said. “The message is universal and I think that the theme of prejudice disguised as religion in a Southern setting is very relevant today.”
According to www.usopera.com, the plot of the opera is based on the Book of Susannah, a fictional addition to the Biblical Book of Daniel.
The story centers on a young girl named Susannah who lives in a rural Appalachian town during the time of the “tent revivals” in America.
Susannah is falsely accused of “immoral behavior” when she is spotted bathing in a creek by the elders of the church and the visiting Rev. Blitch. She is subsequently shunned by the townspeople, who gather evidence from rumors to further their accusations.
McDonough warns that, although the cast is multi-racial, race has no bearing on the plot.
“Opera is color blind,” he said. “Having a black singer may make the audience think of racial prejudice along with the religious prejudice in the story, but that is not so. We cast the roles based on vocal and performance ability.”
Stage manager Dawn Huertas said this opera is different because the cast serves as part of the crew by movng the props onstage during the scene breaks.
“We deliberately want the audience to see the scene shifts instead of bringing the curtain down,” she said. “This gives the audience time to reflect on what they have just seen, and then bring that into the next scene.”
McDonough said students who are apprehensive about attending should not be concerned with a time-consuming show in “Susannah.” He compares it to seeing a Tennessee Williams play, running at two and a half hours, including intermission.
McDonough said that he is currently seeking to build student attendance and appreciation at the opera. He said the unfamiliarity and perception of it as “high brow” often scare students away.
“Opera is just as vital as theater when it comes to portraying social topics that appear in the news,” McDonough said. “We want opera to be the main course [in performing arts], not just dessert.”
Performances are March 26 at 7:30 p.m. and March 28 at 3 p.m. in the LSU Union Theater. For tickets, contact the Union Box Office at 578-5128 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.