Seattle Opera presents:
The Consul
Gian-Carlo Menotti
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Approximate Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, with 1 intermission
McCaw Hall
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In this Pulitzer Prize-winning American work, a devoted wife and mother clashes with the bureaucracy of a nameless police state while trying to obtain an exit visa for her persecuted family. Menotti’s nailbiting narrative surprises with several magical touches and is buoyed by a melodic score in which love, hope, and redemption all play their part. Don’t miss this gripping Seattle Opera premiere.
In English with English subtitles | at McCaw Hall
Approximate Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, with 1 intermission
Audio described performance for visually impaired patrons available on Sunday, February 23. Description begins 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the matinee.
Performance Dates
Sat, Feb 22, 2014 7:30 PM
Sun, Feb 23, 2014 2:00 PM
Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:30 PM
Sat, Mar 1, 2014 7:30 PM
Wed, Mar 5, 2014 7:30 PM
Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:30 PM
Synopsis
Long Story Short
Bureaucracy and totalitarianism can close every border except one.
Who’s Who?
Magda Sorel is everywoman: daughter, wife, mother, victim, and heroine.
John Sorel, her husband, is a wanted enemy of the state.
His Mother and Baby live with Magda in a shabby apartment.
The Secret Police Agent is hot on John’s trail.
Assan, a glass-cutter, is John’s contact in the underground.
The Secretary works for the Consul and tries not to think about all those who need her help.
Some of them include: Nika Magadoff, a vaudeville magician; Anna Gomez, a concentration camp survivor; Mr. Kofner; Vera Boronel; and an older Foreign Woman.
Where and When?
An unidentified totalitarian state, mid 20th century.
What’s Going On?
John Sorel bursts into the small apartment he shares with his family. He is bleeding. The secret police broke up a meeting he was having with fellow revolutionaries, injured him, and followed him home. When they enter to search the apartment, he hides, and his wife Magda covers for him. The Sorels’ only real option is to flee the country. John goes into hiding and Magda goes to the Consulate of an unidentified country, hoping to emigrate legally so they can begin a new life where there is freedom and opportunity.
The only opportunity Magda finds, however, is a chance to fill out paperwork: forms, questionnaires, and applications. The secretary who guards the office of the unseen Consul is a nightmare: “These photos are not the right size.” “This paper must be notarized.” “No one is allowed to see the Consul, the Consul is busy.” “I don’t see how we can help you.” “I can’t make an exception, it would upset our system.” “Next!” Magda takes her place as one of many people, all of them beset with terrible problems, lingering in the Consul’s office, waiting, waiting, hoping beyond hope to hear good news.
Meanwhile, her life goes from bad to worse. With no money, no food, no heat in the apartment, her child grows sick and dies, as does John’s old mother. The secret police wise up to the code Magda uses to pass messages to John’s friends in the underground. And the police agent who stalks Magda is seen in the Consul’s office, chatting companionably with the unapproachable bureaucrat. As Magda edges closer and closer to despair, John sneaks back into the country to try and rescue her. But the secret police arrest him, at the Consul’s office, and in the end, it all comes down to whether the secretary will break the rules and do the right thing…
Artists
- Magda Sorel
- Marcy Stonikas
Vira Slywotzky * - John Sorel
- Michael Todd Simpson
- Mother
- Lucille Beer
- The Secretary
- Sarah Larsen
- Secret Police Agent
- Steven LaBrie †
- Mr. Kofner
- Colin Ramsey †
- Foreign Woman
- Deborah Nansteel
- Anna Gomez
- Dana Pundt
- Vera Boronel
- Margaret Gawrysiak †
- Nika Magadoff
- Alex Mansoori
- Assan
- Joseph Lattanzi
- Conductor
- Carlo Montanaro
- Stage Director
- Peter Kazaras
- Set Designer
- David P. Gordon †
- Costume Designer
- Carrie Kunz †
- Lighting Designer
- Duane Shuler
- Sets & Costumes
- Arizona Opera
† Seattle Opera debut
* On February 23 and 28 only
Margaret Gawrysiak, Sarah Larsen, Joseph Lattanzi, Alex Mansoori, Deborah Nansteel, Dana Pundt, Michael Todd Simpson, Vira Slywotzky, and Marcy Stonikas are former Seattle Opera Young Artists.
The Consul
Long Story Short: Bureaucracy and totalitarianism can close every border except one.
Who’s Who?
Magda Sorel is everywoman: daughter, wife, mother, victim, and heroine.
John Sorel, her husband, is a wanted enemy of the state.
His Mother and Baby live with Magda in a shabby apartment.
The Secret Police Agent is hot on John’s trail.
Assan, a glass-cutter, is John’s contact in the underground.
The Secretary works for the Consul and tries not to think about all those who need her help.
Some of them include: Nika Magadoff, a vaudeville magician; Anna Gomez, a concentration camp survivor; Mr. Kofner; Vera Boronel; and an older Foreign Woman.
Where and When? An unidentified totalitarian state, mid 20th century.
What’s Going On?
John Sorel bursts into the small apartment he shares with his family. He is bleeding. The secret police broke up a meeting he was having with fellow revolutionaries, injured him, and followed him home. When they enter to search the apartment, he hides, and his wife Magda covers for him. The Sorels’ only real option is to flee the country. John goes into hiding and Magda goes to the Consulate of an unidentified country, hoping to emigrate legally so they can begin a new life where there is freedom and opportunity.