FLOYD, Carlisle: Opera: Susannah 2.110381 www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=2.110381 Carlisle Floyd (b. 1926) Susannah Opera in Two Acts Music and libretto by Carlisle Floyd Premiered 24 February 1955 in Ruby Diamond Auditorium at Florida State University Susannah . Susan Hellman Spatafora, Soprano Olin Blitch . Todd Donovan, Baritone Little Bat . Scott Wichael, Tenor Sam . Anthony Wright Webb, Tenor Elder McLean . Brian Wehrle, Bass Elder Ott . Benjamin Bloomfield, Bass-baritone Elder Hayes . Stanley Wilson, Tenor Elder Gleaton . Fred Frabotta, Tenor Mrs. McLean . Melissa Misener, Mezzo-soprano Mrs. Ott . Robyn Rocklein, Mezzo-soprano Mrs. Hayes . Stefanie Izzo, Soprano Mrs. Gleaton . Aleksandra Ritums, Soprano ACT ONE I hope Olin Blitch can smoke 'em out. I aim to do my part. CHAPTER 1 – OVERTURE MRS. HAYES, MRS. GLEATON, MRS. OTT Let's pray fer a real good meetin' SCENE 1 Where lots of lost souls shall be found. (A moment's pause while the women watch the dance. By this time, Scene: New Hope Valley in the mountains of Tennessee. It is a Gleaton, Hayes and Ott have attempted unsuccessfully to get into Monday night in mid-July, and a square dance is in progress in the Susannah 's square. Seeing the efforts of the others, McLean can yard of New Hope Church. A fiddler and caller are in the resist no longer.) background, and downstage are the participants in the dance, the ELDER MCLEAN people of the community as on-lookers, the Elders and their wives. At I think I'll step a few. the curtain's rise, the dance is underway. Susannah, a young girl of MRS. MCLEAN uncommon beauty, is conspicuous in the group by virtue of a (Looking up sharply) brightly-colored dress and the gravitation of men to her square. Her Y' got a puny heart, Bat. face is flushed with high spirits and excitement, and she is unaware of ELDER MCLEAN the eyes upon her. It is early evening, and oil lanterns, hanging from I won't be gone but a minute. trees, have been lit. MRS. HAYES CHAPTER 2 – MRS. GLEATON: It's a hot night for dancin', (After a moment) Ain't no breeze a-stirrin'. Them trees ain't moved all day. Susannah looks mighty pretty tonight. MRS. HAYES, MRS. MCLEAN, MRS. OTT: It shore be still. It shore be It's a shame her ma cain't see her. still. MRS. MCLEAN MRS. OTT: It's just like before a cloud-burst, It's a blessin', you mean. When it smells like rain an' the air be's heavy, (The three wives look at Mrs. McLean in sudden surprise. Then slowly But it ain't like that tonight. they turn to observe Susannah. By the end of Mrs. McLean's outburst, It's just dry and hot and still. they are nodding their heads in assent.) MRS. HAYES, MRS. GLEATON, MRS. OTT: It shore is, it shore is. She's a shameless girl, she is. MRS. HAYES: Seems like it's always this way at meetin' time. Showin' herself to all the men. MRS. GLEATON AND MRS. OTT: Don't it now. Look at her throwin' her head back MRS. MCLEAN: Seems like the Lord is bendin' And look at the cut of her dress, Sinners to his will, But what could you expect but a wench of a girl Like smokin' a fox out'n his hole. Who was raised by a drunken brother? The Lord sends the rain That pretty a face must hide some evil. On the just an' unjust, They's evil in that one, you'll see. Jes' like the Good Book says. She's a shameless wench, Susannah is, MRS. HAYES, MRS. GLEATON, MRS. OTT And it's a blessin' her ma cain't see her. And us as is saved has got to suffer. MRS. HAYES, MRS. GLEATON, MRS. OTT MRS. McLEAN It's a blessin' her ma cain't see her. Hear tell the preacher what's comin' (There enters upstage, at first unobserved by the dancers, a tall, Is one what can do just that: powerfully built man in a plaid shirt and ten-gallon hat. The people Can bring sinners to repentance become aware of his presence gradually, the music dies out, and the Like none we ever had. dancers cease dancing. The Elders group together and move to the MRs. HAYES, MRS. GLEATON, MRS. OTT stranger stiffly.) They say he shore hates sin. MCLEAN They say he shore hates sin. How are y' called, stranger? MRS. MCLEAN BLITCH They's plenty in this valley I am the Reverend Olin Blitch. And I'm prayin' fer a rich harvest. (At Blitch 's announcement of his identity, there is a general stir of They's many a lost and wand'rin' soul voices "Olin Blitch, the meetin' preacher. Well, I do know," etc.) That's gotta be brought to the light. And I've come to New Hope Valley ⓟ & © 2017 Naxos Rights US, Inc. Page 1 of 14 FLOYD, Carlisle: Opera: Susannah 2.110381 www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=2.110381 To cast out devils and conquer sin (Sam Polk, that's the name he was give.) And bring sinners to repentance. He just hunts an' traps an' fishes all day To bring the Word of the Lord An' is allers drunk at night. And the power of His judgments. BLITCH O, I am the Reverend Olin Blitch Let's pray for his soul an' his sister's. And I've come to New Hope Valley. I'll pray for 'em both tonight. MCLEAN GLEATON (Speaking) They're pore as chitlins, them two, But we expected y'here tomorrow. Bare able to live, that's all. BLITCH MRS. McLEAN (Speaking) (Sharply, to counteract any sympathy) I always come a day early Susannah an' Sam is evil, I say. Fer thinkin', an' prayin', an' fastin'. They's bad blood in that family. McLEAN We're glad to have y', brother, It's too pretty a face an' wicked them eyes, An' you've come in the name of the Lord. She'll come to no good, mark my words. This here's Brother Hayes, Brother Gleaton an' Brother Ott. She'll come to no good, mark my words. We're the Elders of this church. BLITCH (Blitch shakes hands with each in turn.) I'll pray fer her soul tonight, HAYES You're welcome among us. (After watching a while longer) BLITCH Amen. Think I'll join the young folks. OTT Let's pray yer visit's gonna bless us. Ain't danced in quite a spell. BLITCH Amen. OTT GLEATON We're prayin' fer a rich harvest of souls. They'd be pleased to have y', I'm sure. BLITCH (Blitch goes into the group and eventually makes his way to Susannah Amen. And I'm proud to be in your midst, my friends, 's square. The dancers in her square stop, stare, and Susannah 's And let's pray that the lost shall be found, partner eagerly gives his place to Blitch. Susannah is shy, then as To be washed in the blood, that cleansin' stream, Blitch extends his hand, she smiles, and the square begins dancing O, let's pray that the lost shall be found. again.) WOMEN MRS. MCLEAN (Overlapping) (Ruefully) He is the Reverend Olin Blitch She'll come to no good; mark my words. And he's come to New Hope Valley To cast out devils and conquer sin SCENE TWO And bring sinners to repentance. Scene: Later the same evening. To bring the Word of the Lord (The scene is the front of the Polk farm house which possesses a And the power of His judgments. rickety porch and steps. There are unpainted porch boxes of O, he is the Reverend Olin Blitch geraniums and petunias and tattered curtains in the windows. There And he's come to New Hope Valley. are also an old rocker and a rusty plow point on the porch. The stage is MEN dimly lit and quietness should pervade the scene.) Olin Blitch has come to New Hope Valley, (Susannah and Little Bat enter. Susannah is still radiant with Lord be praised! excitement. Little Bat is a shifty-eyed youth, not too strong mentally. He Oh yes, Olin Blitch has come to New Hope Valley, possesses instead a litheness and feline quality of movement which, Lord be praised! coupled with his eyes, gives him a constantly expectant and alert air. BLITCH He looks about him furtively upon entering. It should be apparent from I am the Reverend Olin Blitch the beginning of the scene that he worships Susannah.) And I've come to New Hope Valley SUSANNAH To cast out devils and conquer sin CHAPTER 3 – Was y' ever at such a nice square dance, Little Bat? And bring sinners to repentance, I ain't never had such fun, have you? To bring the Word of the Lord I danced an' danced 'til I was plum' wore out. And the power of His judgments. I couldn'a' danced another step. O, I am the Reverend Olin Blitch LITTLE BAT And I've come to New Hope Valley. (Suddenly, after silently agreeing with Susannah's enthusiasm) (To dancers, immediately assuming role of moral arbiter for the Where's Sam? community) SUSANNAH Now resume your steppin' He ain't home yet, or he's gone to bed. Under the eye of the Lord LITTLE BAT And let nothin' pass between y', I'm scared o' Sam. What y' wouldn't want Him to see, SUSANNAH For the Lord seeth all.