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