Orpheus in the Underworld 1981

Artistic Team

Philip A. Kraus......................................................................Stage Director, Translator
Barnard Jones........................................................................Conductor
Amy L Kekst......................................................................... Choreographer
Roy Hine................................................................................Scenic Designer
Jordan Ross...........................................................................Costume Designer
Mark S. Mongold...................................................................Lighting Designer

Cast

The Lictor...............................................................................Alejandro G. Abraham II
Madame Public Opinion........................................................Marcy Anthony
Euridice.................................................................................. Catherine Caccavallo
Orpheus................................................................................... Darrell J. Rowader
Pluto....................................................................................... William Martin
Venus...................................................................................... Gabrielyn I. Watson
Cupid....................................................................................... Karen Brunssen
Mars........................................................................................ Philip Skinner
Morpheus................................................................................ Edward Zelnis
Jupiter..................................................................................... Jo Ann Minds
Mercury.................................................................................. Clayton Hochhalter
Diana....................................................................................... Nancy J. Gustafson
John Styx................................................................................. John Shea
Bacchus................................................................................... Edward Zelnis
Sheep....................................................................................... John E.Giles, Karen H. Laner
Servants of Pluto ................................................................... Brian Morris, Kevin Morris

Policemen of Love:
Cathy Blackard, Barbara Rosina Blum, Robin Lee, Donna Welch-Sandri

Corps de Ballet:
Charlene Campbell, John Clonts, Robert W. Czeschin,Caroling Suzy Hogan, John Helen Oberndorf

Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Gods, & Goddesses:
Sara Berg, Alejandro G. Abraham II, Cathy Blackard, Barbara Rosina Blum, Sally Braswell, Nat Chandler, Jeffrey Clonts, Winifred Clonts, Barrington Coleman, David C. Cottingham, Bob Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Gleman, John E. Giles, John Holland, Jan A. Jarvis, Katherine F. Kulas, Karen H. Laner, Victoria Lang, Robin Lee, Jeff Little, Frank McCormick, Lisa Palumbo, Patricia K. Steiner, Willard Thomen, Donna Welch-Sandri, Edward Zelnis

Offenbach's most popular operetta is a big show. There are actually two versions of the operetta; an early two act version and an expanded four act version. After studying the score Philip Kraus elected to present the four act version with some judicious cuts mainly because the later version of the operetta contained so many delicious additions including several ballets and the quirky cohorts of Cupid, the Policeman of Love!!!

It also became apparent from an exhaustive reading of available translations, that most of them were awful and consistently departed in key places from Offenbach and his librettists' original intentions. The translations from Britain were too British and the available American translations weren't very funny or clever and often departed from the French rhyme scheme. Kraus felt it necessary to do a new translation.

The cast was a who's who of some of the finest local singers in Chicago. Nancy Gustafson and Philip Skinner would go on to well deserved international careers. Friends joined the company from Music of the Baroque and Grant Park Chorus like Darrell Rowader, Karen Brunssen, and the wonderful Clayton Hochhalter who managed to make his first entrance as Mercury on a skate board fitted with with little wings! Two talented stars of the Savoyaires, Jo Ann Minds and John Shea, were cast, both whom Kraus had directed in Iolanthe and The Grand Duke prior to the creation of LOW. Bill Martin from Chicago Opera Theater gave a sinisterly delightful performance of Pluto and tall Northweestern graduate Brad Nystrom was the perfect Jupiter. Feisty Catherine Caccavallo whom Kraus had worked with at Northwestern made a real spitfire of Euridice and Marcy Anthony had the severe gravitas for Public Opinion. Finally, in a bit of a casting coup, local musical "jack of all trades" Ed Zelnis made the double role of Bacchus and Morpheus a true show stopper.

On the design side, the real star of the production were Jordan Ross' incredible costumes. Orpheus has a larger than usual cast for an operetta and Jordan designed a dazzling array of garments most of which were built rather than rented. Pictures in the gallery will give some idea of how fanciful they were. The sets by Roy Hine were clever considering the limited budget, but were somewhat mitigated by technical direction that was late in getting it finished. This would be a chronic problem for LOW as the managing director never really kept adequate tabs on the build. A final bench for Act One was actually constructed on stage on opening night during the Overture! Mark Mongold's lighting did much to hide the rough edges. He created a disco like atmosphere in searing reds for the Act Four scenes in the underworld and he managed to get a neon "Hell" sign which flew in when Pluto abducted Euridice in Act One.

Amy Kekst and Barney Jones were back for the choreography and conducting. For the first time, the company employed a small corps de ballet for the extended dances which included the lovely Charlene Campbell who would go on to choreograph many future LOW productions.

Orpheus was a huge project and proved that a company on a limited budget could make some wonderful things happen. Reviews were mixed, but lauded the company for taking on the project.
It was the first in a cycle of revivals of the Offenbach works in the Chicago area.

Use the buttons on the left to view reviews and pictures from the production.