It’s not your typical opera plot: a family copes with post-apocalyptic trials and the threat of ultimate annihilation, dealing with the daily nightmare of basic sustenance, doing their best to stay together in the midst of chaos. Their daughter, ever hopeful, befriends a homeless man who looks and behaves like a canine, creating a strange family portrait and a tale that questions the very core of what connects us to our humanity.
The opera by composer David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek premiered in New Jersey in 2012, and is part of LAO’s new initiative to present challenging chamber-scaled works at REDCAT, forming an artistic partnership that is bound to continue LA Opera’s efforts to expand their range and dramatic palette. The score mixes classical vocals with elements of heavy metal to create a sonic atmosphere that is intense and yet beautiful and quite melodic in select passages. The story is acknowledged as “deeply unsettling” and potentially difficult for audiences who may be faint of heart. But Listers who have seen it in prep are already impressed, and social media has been buzzing with encouragement. This is a special opportunity to stretch your theatrical legs and venture into some very new territory.
The show opens tonight, and four back-to-back performances, June 12-15, are quite likely to sell out — according to the website, the Sunday matinee is your best bet at this point. This is the company’s last offering of this season, so get over there, quick quick!
Originally published in Next 7 — Vocal events thru 6/18/15
