Orpheus in the Underworld

Music by Jacques Offenbach, French Libretto by Cremieux & Halevy English adaptation by Snoo Wilson & David Pountney THE CAST Orpheus (a musician) ...... Mikal J. Kraklio Eurydice (his wife) ...... Jen Christianson Ann Michels (April 1 & 9) Aristaeus / Pluto (a shepherd / the god of the underworld) ...... James Hamilton Public Opinion (guardian of morals) ...... Lynne Hicks Jupiter (King of the gods) ...... Waldyn J. Benbenek Juno (his wife) ...... Judith McClain Venus ...... Ann Michels Emily Coates (April 1 & 9) Cupid...... Sara Gustafson Diana ...... Alyssa K. Lingor Mars ...... Christopher Michela Mercury ...... Todd Coulter Dr. Morpheus (demi-god of sleep) ...... Richard Rames Rhadamanthys (one of the Triple Judges of Hades) ...... Randy Lebsock Aeacus (one of the Triple Judges of Hades) ...... Kristefor Lysne Minos (one of the Triple Judges of Hades) ...... Richard Rames Cerberus (three-headed dog of Hades) ...... Ernest Brody, Stephanie Brody Charlotte Morrison Love Police (Cupid’s assistants) ...... Kathy Hering (1), Emily Coates (2) Carol Nelson (3), Holly MacDonald, Julie Seykora Imps ...... Ivar Hendrickson, Sophie Benbenek, Alison Van Heel, Cary Van Heel Bacchus (god of wine) ...... Daniel E. Szymczak

Chorus of Nymphs & Shepherds, Violin Pupils, Gods, Goddesses, and denizens of Hades: Jeremy Bierlein Dean Laurance Eric Pasternack Ernest Brody Randy Lebsock Richard Rames Stephanie Brody Alyssa Lingor Sandy Schoenecker Emily Coates Warren Loud Julie Seykora Melanie Cooperman Kristefor Lysne Rhea Sullivan Todd Coulter Holly MacDonald Daniel E. Szymczak Ethan Edwards Mary Mescher Benbenek Susan Volkmer Peter Erickson Charlotte Morrison Holly Windle Roger Evans Carol Nelson Kathy Hering Tim Nelson

Understudies: Jeremy Bierlein, Emily Coates, Todd Coulter, Sara Gustafson, Kathy Hering, Dean Laurance, Alyssa Lingor, Kristefor Lysne, Ann Michels, Carol Nelson, Sandy Schoenecker, Daniel E. Szymczak, Rhea Sullivan

Act I: Hotel Lobby (Earth)

10-minute intermission

Act II: Penthouse Suite (Mount Olympus)

15-minute intermission

Acts III & IV: Café Enfers (Hades)

Turn off all cell phones & pagers No eating or drinking is allowed in the theatre No smoking is permitted in the building The use of flash cameras is strictly forbidden SYNOPSIS Welcome to the Grand Hotel du Monde, where the gods live up in the penthouse and Public Opinion makes the servants toe the line down at lobby level. But the real action is down in the basement, where Pluto keeps the champagne flowing at the Cafe Enfers and love is served á la carte. In Act I, Eurydice is wooed away from her philandering husband, Orpheus, by an attractive stranger who turns out to be Pluto, Lord of the Dead. Orpheus is delighted when the two run off together, but Public Opinion is outraged. She insists that Orpheus must put up a front of moral respectability and get his wife back. She will personally escort him up to Mount Olympus to ask Jupiter to intervene. Act II finds the Olympian gods and goddesses snoozing as Dr. Morpheus spreads his poppy dust — and the last few deities sneak back in after a night on the town. Dawn reveals that all is not serene up here, either. When news of Euiydice’s abduction reaches Olympus, Juno can only assume that Jupiter has been chasing mortal girls again. Mercury has evidence to point the finger at Pluto, however, so he is summoned to explain himself. When Orpheus and Public Opinion finally arrive, Jupiter promises Orpheus that he will descend to Hades to look for the girl himself and agrees to take the whole pantheon with him for a little holiday. Pluto manages to keep Eurydice hidden away, so Act III finds her bored and Jupiter increasingly annoyed. Convening an Infernal Court (with three blind justices and evidence from the three-headed dog, Cerberus) fails to bring satisfaction. Cupid is ready to help, though, and summons the Love Police to find Eurydice for Jupiter. Jupiter then assumes an unusual disguise to slip through the keyhole and woo Eurydice for himself. In Act IV, Jupiter tries to escape with Eurydice but finds himself running smack into the celebration Pluto has thrown for the Olympians. The party is just starting to get interesting when Public Opinion barges in, spoils the fun and puts everyone back on track to reunite Orpheus with Eurydice. Jupiter can’t let that happen. But who gets the girl? Well, Eurydice has her own ideas. HISTORICAL NOTE Orpheus in the Underworld was first performed in 1858, and reached London in 1865. Its success was one of the inspirations for the creation of a home-grown English operetta, and for Richard D’Oyly Carte’s pairing of Gilbert and Sullivan to accomplish it. Orpheus was revised in 1874 to the full 4-act version with chorus, and achieved even greater popularity. The English adaptation we are using was created for the 1985 English National Opera production. 

THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN VERY LIGHT OPERA COMPANY Since its founding in 1979 by Dick Fishel and Jim Hart, the company has produced all the Gilbert and Sullivan shows: Trial By Jury (1979), Patience (1980), lolanthe (1981). Princess Ida (1982), Ruddigore (1983), The Gondoliers (1984), The Mikado (Spring 1985), The Sorcerer (Fall 1985), The Pirates of Peniance (1986), The Yeomen of the Guard (1987), Utopia, Ltd. (1988), H.M.S. Pinafore (1989), Patience (1990), The Grand Duke (1991), lolanthe (1992), Princess Ida (1993), The Gondoliers (1994), Ruddigore (1995), The Mikado (Spring 1996), The Zoo and Trial By Juiy (Fall 1996), The Sorcerer (1997), The Pirates of Penzance (1998), and The Yeomen of the Guard (1999) In the Spring of 2001, we will present H.M.S. Pinafore. Tax deductible contributions to help support our season are always welcome. THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN VERY LIGHT OPERA COMPANY P.O. Box 580172, Minneapolis MN 55458 Telephone: (612) 925-9159 Visit the GSVLOC home page at: http://www.gsvloc.org PRODUCTION STAFF Stage Director and Choreographer ...... Lesley Hendrickson Music Director ...... Steven Michael Utzig Artistic Director ...... Wendy Evans Stage Manager ...... Lisa Horton Assistant Stage Managers ...... Peggie Kennedy, Jennifer Anne McDermott Shawnna Werner Set Designer ...... Michael Hoover Set & Prop Construction & Painting ...... Terry Brooks, David Bush, Matt Dolph Herb Holzschuh, Lisa Horton, Bob Hunter, Peggie Kennedy Hellen Kriesel, Scott Lillehaug, Jennifer Anne McDermott with Ernest Brody, Dean Laurance, and other cast members Costume Designer ...... Kristin Hawbaker Wardrobe Mistress ...... Janine Juergens, Jo Pasternack Costume Workers ...... Adena Brumer, Wendy Evans, Martha Floerchinger Kristin Hawbaker, Jacqui Heie, Ellen Holzschuh Janine Juergens, Stacy Melehert, Jo Pasternack Kate Schroeder, Diana Schwartz, Brianna Sullivan, & cast members Lighting Designer ...... Thomas Mendenhali Lighting Crew ...... John Cuff, Nicole Simoneau Light Board Operator ...... Bob Hunter Spotlight Operators ...... Liz Haworth, Hellen Kriesel, Brianna Sullivan Special Effects ...... Mark Ellenberger Audio-Visual Engineer ...... Bob Johanneck, Pat Johanneck, Carl Nelson Poster Graphic Design ...... Jason Ulrich & 7·30 Creative Lobby Display & Photography ...... Roger Evans, Stephen Hage, Rhea Sullivan Group Photos by ...... Daniels Studio House Managers ...... Carol Kollander, Kathy Mitchell, Mary Kay Murray House Staff Recruiter ...... Charlotte Morrison Ticket Sales ...... Katie Lowry Ticket Assistants ...... Ruth Erickson, Carol Kollander Dean Laurance, Fred Morrison, Chris Rusin The Board: Producer ...... Julie Seykora Labour Pool Coordinator ...... Ernest Brody Publicity ...... Jeremy Bierlein Treasurer ...... Richard Rames Secretary ...... Susan Volkmcr Cast Representatives ...... Kristefor Lysne. Ann Michels Orchestra Representative ...... Barb Hovey

ORCHESTRA Conductor ...... Steven Michael Utzig Violin ...... Jennifer Fleeger (Concert Mistress) Greg Bastien, Michael Compton, Debbie Feinwachs, Brenden Fortune Mahrit Johson, Sharon Munkwitz, Agnes Wolf, Milton Wright, Eva Zorn Viola ...... Dianna Garvey, Tom Rognsvoog, Aija Ronis Cello ...... Coral Bastien, Amy Carlson, John Litch, Wendy Lukaszewski Bass ...... Ron Rasmussen Flute ...... Ruth Erickson, Julie Lindstrom, Katie Lowry Clarinet ...... Barb Hovey, Julie Piper Oboe ...... Jean Beyer, John Hunt Bassoon ...... Holly Leighton, Rebecca Totzke Horn ...... Mike Engh, Judy Heimerman, Ellen Sorenson, Bob Spector Trumpet ...... Bob Hirte, Andrew Shellenbarger Trombone ...... Brian Carlson, Greg Michnay, Greg Onstad Percussion ...... Jane Hogan, Julie Schmid, Jim Streich Rehearsal Pianists ...... Lawrence Henry, Sally Reynolds, Jean Rybold Darin Tysdal, Jean Van Heel GLOSSARY (in order of occurrence) Public opinion “I started off small as Chorus in classical plays” — In Greek drama, the speaking chorus comments on the action My sweet aeolian muse — Aeolus is god of the winds; musically, a tone produced as if by the wind; the muses are goddess patrons of the arts and sciences I don’t want you swanning around with a shepherd — idling; dallying Arcadian delights — pastoral; simple I’ve Gone/ avec Pluton / To ‘ell/ Farewell — Eurydice’s farewell note is a mix of English and French (“Pluton” is French for Pluto) she never could scan — be metrically consistent in poetry abandoning your wife to Stygian gloom — refers to the River Styx in Hades, hence, dark the blush that fills Aurora’s cheeks — goddess of dawn; i.e., it’s daybreak my snaky wand which mortals call a caduceus — Mercury’s staff with two entwined snakes, topped by wings; symbol of a herald; physician’s emblem silver-tongued venality — bribery or corruption I nicked Apollo’s oxen — as a child, Mercury stole Apollo’s herd of oxen steak & kidney pie, blood sausage, bangers & mash — traditional English foods muse on a plinth — a base, as for a statue or column the faces of all the three graces — goddesses, givers of charm and beauty Mt. Olympus — the home of the gods and goddesses Tranformatlon song: Jupiter was known for assuming a disguise and seducing mortal women — he seduced Leda, a Spartan Queen, in the guise of a swan (Helen of Troy was one of their offspring), and appeared to Europa as a gentle bull but then galloped off into the sea and took her to Crete. He visited Danaë as a shower of golden coins. On m’a ravi mon Eurydice — Offenbach has Orpheus start to sing an aria from the famous Gluck opera “Orpheus and Eurydice” There we’ll spend the dirtiest weekend — British slang for an illicit get-away he spoke of libidinous antics, and left me an Indian tome — he led her on with talk of sex, but then left her alone with a book, apparently the Kama Sutra Triple judges of Hades — the judges who pass sentence on those entering Hades, sending the good to the Elysian Fields and the wicked to everlasting torment Cerberus — the three-headed dog guarding the gate to Hades We outclass that old pastmaster from Baker Street — Sherlock Holmes If l do as a bluebottle does — a kind of fly his hospitality... rivals Mrs Astor’s — N. Y. Society hostess of the late 1800s Pluto is King. Vive Pluton! — A bi-lingual approach to praise What puissant thighs — powerful She will be a Bacchante — A female worshipper of Bacchus, a bacchante lived a life of freedom in the wilderness that might have included sweet singing, ecstatic dances and mad (sometimes deadly to others) frenzies. It is Bacchus who reigns — God of Wine The Orpheus and Eurydice Legend Orpheus was so gifted a musician that wild beasts gathered around him entranced when he played his lyre. Shortly after marrying him, Eurydice was walking in a meadow when she was bitten by a viper and died. Grief- stricken, he resolved to rescue her from Hades (where all dead people go). His music charmed the three- headed dog Cerberus, and when he sang of his woes, even the god Pluto listened. Eurydice was restored to him on the condition that he would not look back at her as they climbed up out of the darkness to earth. Just as they neared the upper world, Orpheus turned back in a moment of forgetfulness. As she disappeared behind him, all he heard was her faint “Farewell.” He returned to the earth in utter desolation, where he played his lyre constantly until he was killed by a band of frenzied Bacchantes. Where his remains are buried, the nightingale sings more sweetly than anywhere else. Reunited with his beloved Eurydice in the Elysian Fields, Orpheus may gaze at her to his heart’s content. CONTRIBUTORS

Olympians ($100 and over)

Patricia & Mark Bauer  Mark R. Ellenberger Virgil T. Fallon  Land O’Lakes  John Litch  Thor Lyford  Shirley Moore  John & Dianne Orbison  R. N. Quiche  Marvin & Martha Rogers  Tom & Beverly Rogers  James Schwarz  David Seykora / MediaOne  Terrapin Technologies, Inc.  Margaret Raymonde Thomas  Connie Waterous 

Graces and Muses ($50 - $99)

Arlene & Tom Alm  Suzanne Ammerman  Philip Asgian  Benjamin & Aroti Bayman  Jeffrey R. Brown  Dean & Amy Carlson  Frank Dowding  Mr. & Mrs. James Dreher  Michael Dunham  Kevin Edgar  Joan Forester  Perry & Barbara Gilfillan  Bernard W. Lindgren  Tim Nelson  Carol Paulsen  Nancy & Bert Poritsky  Leila D. J. Poullada  Kent & Cynthia Powers  Mr. & Mrs. A. X. Robbins  Leon Shaw  William K. Sheffield  Doris Skalstad 

Nymphs and Shepherds (up to $50)

Dirk Ferlen & Jane Baird  George Barany  Patricia Baribeau  Sandie & Anthony Beltran  Gerald Benson  Phillip & Katherine Bergem  Ronald Bonnicksen  Armine Boyadjian  Beth, Laurie & Terry Brooks  Rose Marie Bryan  Robert R. Burns  Ruth Cardinal  Hatim Carim  Peter Coffey  Mary J. Cole  Pearl Cole  Bob & Betty Dassett  Mary Theresa Downing  Dawn M. Ehlmann  Elizabeth B. Erickson  Leonard & Karen Erickson  Robert Erikson  John E. Evans  Donald Fabian  Rich & Judith Fine  David & Anna Lou Ford  Gayle Gaskill  Bruce Gottsche  Ed Grant  Robert Gravrok  Greg S. Gross  Barbara Gudmanson  Marianne D. Hageman  Florence Halverson  Madeline Hamermesh  Linda Dexter Hancher  Kay Hawbaker  Mary M. Heiman  David & Kris Henderson  Bob & Marge Hennesy  Del Holmes  Tom & Margaret Holzinger  C. Joseph & Katherine Howard  Mary Ann Huelster  Alice Hughes  John & Nancy Hughes  John S. Huizinga  Evelyn H. Jackson  George Francis Kane  Marita Karlisch  Kenneth Kauffman  Roxie & Eric King-Smith  Jake Koller  Grey D. Krieger  Joan Lorman  Beverly Lutz  Roderick & Joanne MacDonald  Dr. Merle Mark  C. Paul Martin  Jack & Vivian Mason  Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Maxton  Jean McCampbell  Pat McGuire  Don Mittelstadt  David G. Morrison  Karl M. Nelson  Colleen Stucker Netzell  Ralph B. North  Riley Owens  Dan & Pat Panshin  George Peer  Elsa Peterson  Garry & Mary Ann Peterson  Catherine M. Pitz  John & Marge Pollack  Betsy Raasch-Gilman  Bobbie Recht  Miriam Reibold  Charles Frisch & Marilyn Reichman  Bob & Elie Reid  Shirley Retter  Jack Ross  Elaine Savick  William Sell  Judith Shalaby  Stacey & David Smith  Jackie Soucek  Peggy Spurgeon  Arthur Sternberg  Mike Stone  Mathew Streater  Janet & Craig Swan  Kitty Taylor  Thomas E. Trisko  Brett D. Wagner  Lillian Wallis  Richard Woellner  Lorraine Zauft 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Hobart United Methodist Church, Plymouth Congregational Church, Child Garden Montessori School, Minnetonka Symphony (orchestra lights), St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Cadenza Music (for student violins), Liquor Depot (big champagne bottle), Jason Ulrich & 7·30 Creative (poster design), Land O’Lakcs (vocal score printing), Terrapin Technologies (advertising), and our divine staff of ushers, ticket sellers, and concessionaires. The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company

presents ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD by Jacques Offenbach

at The Howard Conn Fine Arts Center 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis

March 24 - April 16, 2000