Program Note by the Directors

Jane Davidson
The Storm and The Old Maid and the Thief

The Storm was completed after speaking with residents of Creswick, Victoria, whose terrifying experience of storm and flooding in 2022 provoked this reflection on opera as a means of offering testimony to the experience of extreme weather events. The students worked as co-collaborators to generate the work. Creswick residents have been moved and invigorated by the project, and the student group will be performing The Storm again on 6 April 2024 at CresFest 2024.
The Old Maid and the Thief underscores Italian-American Gian Carlo Menotti’s position as a significant mid-twentieth century opera composer and librettist.
Originally created at the dawn of World War 2, this production transfers the story to 1960s, where conventions around authority, race, gender and social position were changing.

—

Beverly Blankenship
The Medium and A Hand of Bridge

The Medium and Hand of Bridge are two jewels in the canon of short opera.

Our motto for rehearsals was THE SINGING BODY IN MOTION.

This meant accessing extreme emotions, allowing them to dictate difficult situations and resulting in tragic action for The Medium. A Hand of Bridge on the other hand was all about bottling up these extreme emotions, only allowing them life in the secret thoughts of the four people almost strangled by convention. Singing while moving is a technical challenge. Allowing difficult emotions and ridiculous feelings to the surface is emotionally challenging. It was a real pleasure watching this group of young singers facing these complex issues  running with the wild side. The wild side – that is the essence of opera.

—

Special Acknowledgements

Vocal Area Staff
Dr Stephen Grant, Anna Connolly, Linda Barcan

Cover and extra technical work
Teresa Ingrilli

Costume and props support:
Georgia Johnson, Duraan Reid and cast

Assistance with The Medium and A Hand of Bridge:
Jessica Gerger, Andrew Robb, and Frances Wood; and for The Old Maid and the Thief: Terance Glasson and Nicholas Beecher.

Institutional support from:
The Dean, Professor Marie Sierra
Director of the Conservatorium, Professor Richard Kurth
Artistic Operations, Abe Watson and Andy Turner
Head of Music Theatre, Tyran Parke.

Credits

The Storm
Co- Created by the cast, with Brynn Jacka

Director for The Old Maid and The Thief
Jane Davidson

Accompanist for The Storm and The Old Maid and The Thief
Jem Herbert

Director for The Medium and A Hand of Bridge
Beverly Blankenship

Accompanist for The Medium and A Hand of Bridge
Julian Wade

—

Crew for Mini Opera Festival 2024

Vocal Coaches
Phillipa Safey, Andrea Katz and Jacob Abela

Accent Coach
Melissa Davis

Lighting realisation Sidney Younger

Costume realisation
Eleanor Hutchison

Stage Managers
Claudia Howarth and Lowanna van Dorssen

Technical Crew
Robert Brown and Tomas Geradimidis

Sound
Connor Brown and Conor Dunne

Production Coordinator
Jade Norfolk

The Front of House Team

Cast Lists

The Storm and Old Maid and the Thief

The Medium and A Hand of Bridge