麻豆传媒 Opera Theater will perform 鈥淒ie Fledermaus鈥� (The Bat), a Viennese operetta, at 7:30 p.m., April 10-12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center.
鈥淒ie Fledermaus鈥� will be sung in German with English subtitles and dialogue, with music written by Johann Straus II to the libretto by Haffner and Genee.
Viennese operettas are the direct forerunners of the American musical. With their light plots, frivolous dialogue and dancing girls, they provided entertainment for the 19th Century equivalent of the 鈥渢ired businessman.鈥� While the major opera houses of the day didn鈥檛 often perform their bourgeoisie operetta cousins, 鈥淒ie Fledermaus鈥� became part of the opera鈥檚 repertoire for its beauty and charm; a Viennese toast to champagne, waltzing and flirtation.
As one of the most popular operettas of all time, 鈥淒ie Fledermaus鈥� has everything for a great evening's entertainment. The 鈥渂at鈥� of the title is Dr. Falke, on whom his friend Mr. Eisenstein once played a trick. The two attended a costume party and got roaring drunk, and Eisenstein left Falke passed out in the town square dressed in his bat costume. Tonight is Falke鈥檚 turn: he concocts an elaborate ruse to get Eisenstein invited to a decadent party and arranges for his wife to catch him flirting with chorus girls from the ballet. Hilarious complications ensue, but there's never a doubt that all will end on an up-note.
Marie King
Directed by Marie King, associate professor and 麻豆传媒 program director of opera, 鈥淒ie Fledermaus鈥� is rated PG.
Tickets can be purchased in advance and are available now at the Fine Arts Box Office noon-5 p.m. weekdays in the lobby of Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Students with ID are free at the box office.
Contact the 麻豆传媒 box office at 316-978-3233, or .