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La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini

night scene

IU Opera Theater's production of Puccini's La Bohème, the story of the ups and downs of the life and loves of the Parisian bohemians, is lively fun.  It's lovely to listen to with a very strong cast, and beautiful to watch. Once again C. David Higgins familiar wonderful popup sets and colorful costumes are a dominant feature drawing applause all by themselves, and stage director Jeffrey Buchman has made even more creative use of them.

Buchman has done a lovely job of staging with his four bohemians.  Tenor Derrek Stark was definitely the show stopper in his performance as the poet Rodolfo, but Ross Coughanour was masterful in his singing and acting as the sympathetic friend and painter Marcello. Keith Schwartz ably partnered the others and did a very funny job with a hand puppet as he recounted his musical adventures with a parrot. Bass Steven Berlanga was lovely in his mournful aria as he prepared to sell his treasured old overcoat.

Of the ladies, both singing better than very well, Lacy Sauter was a bit more womanly than girlish as the sickly heroine Mimi. In the opening scene as she meets Rodolfo, director Buchman has her being a little more assertive than Mimi's that I've seen in the past. This didn't detract at all from her later very. moving moments of pathos. Chelsea Hart was more girlish than womanly as the wonderful firebrand Musetta, Marcello's off again-on again girlfriend. Again in the final scene her move to sympathetic support and sacrifice was handled with grace.

Christopher Seefeldt did a nice job as the bohemians tipsy land lord and later as Musetta's temporary benefactor.

Conductor Paul Nadler led a spirited production that moved smoothly through the action with orchestra, chorus, soloists and the set all in very satisfying synchrony.

IU Opera Theater has just two final performances of Puccini's La Bohème, Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th at 8 in the Musical Arts Center.

At the theatre for you, I'm George Walker.

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