The Beautiful Galatea 1982 Review Clips

Pioneer Press
Light Opera Works' Scores with Double Bill
Suzanne Weiss

It's the legend of Pygmalion, the sculptor who fashions a statue of a woman so enticing he falls in love with it...von Suppé, writing in 1865, set in ancient Greece with the sculptor, his apprentice and rich old old fool named Midas all vying for the affections of the fair lady of stone...A fluffy slice of Viennese Sachertorte if evr I saw one.

Pretty Gayle Rokyo was a spirited statue-come-to-life, pouting, flirting, and breaking crockery all over the place. The soprano, star of last season's "H.M.S. Pinafore," did vocal justice to von Suppé's lilting score and with mezzo Sally Brasswell, in a "pant's role" as the apprentice Ganymede, achieved some moments of high musicality. Brasswell's acting was every bit as fine as her voice.

Barney Jones consistently provided Light Opera Works with fine orchestral participation last season and, from the phrases of the von Suppé overturem, you knew that this year was going to be just as good.

The Reader
Light and Lively
Ted Shen

Although only in its second year of existence, the Evanston-based Light Opera Works  -
which prides itself on being made up entirely of local professionals - has found a niche in Chicago's opera scene: it mounts light, comic fare that tends to be passed up by bigger companies in town. Moreover, it's artistic director, Philip Kraus, has shown a flair for picking worthwhile projects that display the company's personnel in a favorable light. Such was the case of it's season opening presention...

Leading off the double bill was The Beautiful Galatea, a concoction as sweet and inconsequential as Viennese pastry.

Gayle Royko was a gorgeous Galatea, both in looks and in hwer coloratura outbursts.
Equally engaging was Sally Brasswell's Ganymede, a high-spirited, irresistible portrayal that easily demonstrated why Galatea chased after the apprentice and not the master. Their duet won the eveining's loudest applause.

John E. Giles's slabbering, crotchety Midas would have scared off the hammiest of vaudvillians. His and Domald Kasch's theatrics were in keeping with the makeshift decor...

...Royko looked stunning in her chiffon getup.

The Chicago Tribune
Howard Reich

The Beautiful Galatea is a bubbly piece with a pleasant score set to the Greek legend of Pygmalion.

Gayle Royko offered gorgeous coloratura work as Galatea, the stone figure come to life (and song); and Donald Kaasch was an ardent Pygmalion.