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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2000)
ÍÜIje $.1 n rt hm h © besrtfer On Stage Premiering March 25. When the curtain rises, audiences will enter a world somewhere between a circus and an adventure playground, where forest creatures sing, gl ide, soar and glow. Inspired by a series o f newspaper cartoons in the 1920s, The Cunning Little Vixen concerns the adventures o f a young female fox and the forester who tries to capture and tame her. The lives o f humans and anim als are interw oven in the continuing search for freedom, love and renewal. Rather than a fairy tale, this opera is an allegory - a folktale along the lines o f A esop's fables or the Brothers Grimm. “This piece is real, direct and u n sen tim en tal,” declares stage director Keith Warner. W arner has d ire c te d o p e ra p ro d u c tio n s throughout North America, Europe, ‘ Asia and Australia. He comments Focus March 15, 2000 Page 3 The Portland Opera presents The Cunning Little Vixen that “while the animal characters and the imaginative design concept will appeal to children, this is not a Disney version o f life in the woods.” Dark at times, Vixen is a thoughtful and inspiring exploration o f the natural world and how humans and animals come to terms with their place in the cycle o f life. Janacek is one o f the 20,h century’s m ost d istin c tiv e and o rig in al composers. In creating this lush, u n iq u e sc o re , Ja n a c e k drew inspiration from Czech folk songs and the everyday inflections o f his Moravian dialect. The music is at once both rhythmic and lyrical, and it is this tension of opposites that audiences have found so stirring. Set d e sig n e r John C o n k lin ’s ingenious multi-level sets propel the performers into the sky and beneath the earth using swings, high w ire s, tra m p o lin e s and even rollerblades. C o n k lin ’s unique a p p ro a c h led to an u n u su al collaboration for this production: he is designing the sets in conjuction with Is' and 2nd grade children at A p p le g a te E le m e n ta ry and Metropolitan Learning Center in Portland. “C hildren’s draw ings reflect the freedom o f life and imagination that is a central theme in Vixen," explains Conklin. “They represent an abstract, liberated world.” To match this innovative approach to set design, costumer Constance Hoffman has created costumes that are a clever blend o f both human and animal traits. The Blue Jay, for example, wears a rain coat and has his hair spiked back like a punk rocker. The caterpillar is wrapped in a cocoon-like shawl, while the Dragonfly wears goggles and a bomber jacket. Doris Café JON KOONCE & THE GAS HOGS Thursday, M arch 9, at 7pm THE STEVE BRADLEY GROUP Thursday, M arch 16, at 7pm Bar & Banquet Room Available For Private Parties Full Bar Available For Private Parties! ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION Friday, M arch 17, 4pm to 11pm Irish B ands • Irish D an cers • Irish C offee L ep rech au n s • S to ry tellin g • Fam ily Fun CRAIG CAROTHERS SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND Sunday, M arch 19, D oors at 7pm, Show at 7:30pm A d m issio n $7 Complete with Bartender & You can order Beers of your of choice! Buffet Style food or a personalized Menu for your party Can handle parties as small as 10 people and as large as a 100 Or let us Cater your party at your place! Call Rosie Dean, Keith or Sam for a quote @ 503-287-9249 I& I “R eggae Inna A frikan S ty le e ” Thursday, M arch 23, at 7pm BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2000 STEVE BRADLEY GROUP WITH JO N KOONCE VS THE X ANGELS Thursday, M arch 30 at 7pm All ages welcome • No cover charge unless noted Doris Cali-Located at 325 NE Russell- Portland, OR 97212 (503) 287-0640-Fax Breakfast Available 7 AM - Noon Sat & Sun M cM cn am in s K en n ed y School 5736 NE 33rd • Portland, Oregon • 249-3983 w w w .m cm en.im ins.com
