Show reviewed:  Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute)
Date saw the show:  March 16, 2008
Place saw the show:  Kansas City, Missouri
Company: Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Principal Leads: Jonathan Boyd, Matthew Worth, Maureen McKay, Lorraine Ernest, Craig Hart, Doug Jones
Stage Director: Garnett Bruce
Conductor:  Stephen Hargreaves

4 Stars

Reviewed by:  Deborah Ground Buckner

In staging the Lyric Opera of Kansas City production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), director Garnett Bruce said he wanted to "show the danger of acting on first impressions, and perhaps Mozart's cautions of acting on impulse."  The young prince Tamino (Jonathan Boyd) does his share of jumping to conclusions.  First, he believes his life has been saved by Papageno (Matthew Worth), a strange-looking feather-garbed bird catcher, when a dragon has been slain.  Papageno is willing to go along with the idea, until three ladies-in-waiting to the Queen of the Night reveal themselves to be his saviors.  When they take him to the Queen (Lorraine Ernest), she convinces him her daughter, Pamina (Maureen McKay) is being held by an evil priest, Sarastro (Craig Hart), and, seeing a miniature of the daughter, Tamino is easily convinced of the need to act on the Queen's wishes to save her.  The Queen gives Tamino a magic flute to help him in rescuing Pamina.  Papageno, who will accompany Tamino on the journey, receives a set of magic bells

Once in the presence of Sarastro, Tamino realizes there are two sides to every conflict, and finds a sympathetic and noble character in Sarastro.  However, Pamina is in need of rescue from the unwanted attention of Monostatos (Doug Jones), a Moorish servant of Sarastro who has fallen in love with Pamina.  Papageno, traveling ahead, makes the rescue, but he and Pamina are forced to surrender when they are taken back to Sarastro.  Craig Hart's rich bass aids in Sarastro's characterization as a purveyor of justice.

Tamino and Pamina may be together if Tamino fulfills the trials set by Sarastro against a setting involving many Masonic elements (hence the large number of Masons in attendance at the performnce).  Papageno is also to perform the trials with Tamino, and, in exchange, will be given a wife.  But Papageno is hopeless in the trial of silence and does not even attempt the trials of fire and water.  Tamino, with Pamina at his side, uses the power of the magic flute to conquer the elements.  The Queen's final attempt to defeat Sarastro fails, and she is swept away into eternal night.

Boyd and McKay make an attractive couple and sing their parts with accomplishment.  Boyd especially comes into his own during the scenes of the trials of fire and water. 

As the Queen of the Night, Ernest has one of the greatest challenges to a soprano in opera, the "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" aria which has a two-octave range reaching up to F above high C.  Ernest hit every note of this fast-paced song, and I do believe the highest notes set my blood flowing backwards for a moment! Although Jones acted the role of Monostatos with all due villainy (and received some gratifying boos from the audience at curtain call), his voice did not project well, and even at only eight rows from the stage, I had difficulty hearing him. 

To me, this production belongs to Matthew Worth.  His Papageno is a fun and likable character in a role that could easily have been blown over the top with too much silliness.  Instead, his gentle, cowardly bird catcher is believable and a fitting sidekick to any hero.  Worth's performance made me think this is how Danny Kaye would have played such a character, with appropriate rubber face and lithe movement, but Worth also adds a rich baritone that does great justice to the role.  It was particularly pleasant to hear Worth and Boyd blending their voices in song.  Even if Papageno does wimp out in performing the trials, we are happy to see him get his girl in the end!

Praise is due to Mary Traylor, Costume Coordinator and Designer, for the colorful array of costumes that added to the characterization and period of the opera.  The bird catcher's ensemble, complete with feathers, deserves special note.  Set Designer R. Keith Brumley and Lighting Designer Jim Sale have created a magical world, including an airship device in which three young gentlemen fly to save Pamina and, later, Papageno from thoughts of suicide.  The use of a sheer curtain and magnificent lighting brought the trials of fire and water very much to life.

Garnett Bruce and the Lyric Opera have presented The Magic Flute as truly magical!