The closed velvet red and gold curtain complements the antique feel of the town theater. The audience slowly moves to their seats. The chatter of eager viewers mimics the hustle behind the curtains as the singers take places. The second ring of the bell signals that the show is about to start. The theater awakes as the curtain opens to reveal an array of vivid colors and one solitary actress. The curly-haired conductor flicks his baton, the music starts, and his ar ms begin moving widely in complete control of the instruments.
This is the night that director Riccardo Canessa has been preparing for. It is opening night. Since the beginning of June he has been working with the students of Cagli's Opera School in the production of L'Osteria di Marechiaro . The town of Cagli, located in Italy's Le Marche region, is no stranger to the opera. With a population of about 10,000, it is rich in both ancient and modern art. The 19 th -century municipal theater, the Teatro Comunale, provides the perfect setting for an opera.
The confidence and professionalism of the singers on stage gives no indication that rehearsals started two weeks ago and that the cast is made up mostly of students. The pairing of each couple and the complementary colors of their costumes help the audience match up the characters.
The pre-production process could only be described as chaotic. Props, lights, costumes, and carpentry were scattered all over the theater, all the while the singers were instructed to redo the last scene. The task of putting a performance on stage is not an easy one. The attention to detail is a key element in the theatrical bus iness. Even before the characters were assigned their roles, the director had a good idea of what he wants out of each character, how they will interact with each other, and roughly the steps he needs to take to make it happen.
Some things that the director thinks about when he begins to prepare for a performance are lighting design, set design, costume design, and how long will it take for each of these elements to be ready for opening night. What props and sound effects are needed? Where should the singers be placed on stage, how will they enter, how will they exit?
All of these elements are directly related to the director's interpretation of the show and how he wants the audience to experience it. A theatrical performance of any kind requires long hours and lots of work. Rehearsals were held every day for three hours in the morning and the  evening, breaking once for the Italian pausa . Even though the actors had rehearsal time, it took countless hours of practice offstage in their own time. The people involved in the performance have a lifelong passion for the stage. They would not being doing this if it were not something that they loved. It is something they truly enjoy, but they are not putting the show on for just themselves. The desire to put on a good performance for the audience is reflected in the discipline and commitment of all those involved. The theater is family both on and off the stage. It works as one complete unit with a common goal. The devotion of the actors is projected through the performance and is rewarded with applause and approval from the audience.
As opening night approached, the schedule was tight and nerves were at an all-time high. But it is the thrill of not having complete control that keeps Canessa in the business. You have to be able to take risks to survive, he says. The risk-taking goes hand in hand with the love for the stage. The business is not for everyone. And it is the high-risk situations that separate the long haulers from those that get left standing in the dust.
The set is complete, props are in place, and the transformation of nine very different people results in chemistry on stage. They take their final bows, the audience applauds, the conductor lays down his baton, and the curtain closes. Canessa started with high expectations for an opera that is typically appeals to an elite audience. The applause of the audience was all he could have asked for. The spectators are exiting the theater, and the lights shut off one by one. The theater sleeps until another director comes along the share his love for the arts with a new audience. |
