BOLIVAR, Mo. — Southwest Baptist University’s Opera Workshop will present an operatic version of
William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at 7:30 p.m., April 21-22, in Pike
Auditorium on the Bolivar campus.
At the center of the story is the immortal character, John Falstaff. It seems the knight has sent identical love letters to two virtuous wives in the village of Windsor. The ladies plot their revenge on Falstaff and their jealous husbands with frivolity and fun, involving the entire village in their pranks.
The opera, by Otto Nicolai, dates to the 19th century and is a charming hybrid of both Italian Bel Canto and German Romantic style. Directed by Jane Munson-Berg, assistant professor of music at SBU, and conducted by Dr. Jim Tarrant, the opera will be fully staged and performed with a 22-member chamber orchestra. The singers will perform in English, with supertitles provided for additional audience understanding. Jonathan Wehmeyer, scenic designer and instructor of theatre, will provide the set and Scott Brigman, technical director of Pike Auditorium, will provide lighting. The theatre department, which collaborates with the department of music for opera productions, will supply makeup, hair, props and scenery.
Tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office, online or by phone at (417) 328-1691, and are $10 for adults, $8 for SBU alumni and senior citizens, and $4 for students. Admission is free for SBU faculty and staff, as well as children under the age of 3, who can sit on a parent’s lap.
For more information, call (417) 328-1691 or visit www.SBUniv.edu/theatre. Also, check us out on Facebook at Southwest Baptist University Department of Music.