{"id":14530,"date":"2018-07-27T17:33:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-28T00:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cahighways.org\/wordpress\/?p=14530"},"modified":"2018-07-27T17:38:26","modified_gmt":"2018-07-28T00:38:26","slug":"%f0%9f%8e%ad-perhaps-tinder-might-have-better-odds-the-golden-lasso-operaworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cahighways.org\/wordpress\/?p=14530","title":{"rendered":"🎭 Perhaps Tinder Might Have Better Odds | “The Golden Lasso” @ Operaworks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Golden\"\"One of the more interesting shows we go to every year is the culmination of the Advanced Artists summer session<\/a> at OperaWorks<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>). We saw this year’s show last Sunday; the writeup has been delayed due to my preoccupation with the “map project” for my highway pages (this is where I’m adding maps for each highway to that highway’s pages<\/a>; I’m up to Route 228, as of the time of posting).<\/p>\n

Back to Operaworks. Operaworks is a program for up and coming opera singers. They all know how to sing, but being a successful performer in the world of Opera involves much more. Operaworks teaches them that “much more”. It teaches them the business of opera; it also teach them how to perform and interact as a character on the stage. The program that we see is the culmination of that teaching. The class works together to pick a theme for the show. They then create their characters, determine their interactions, and select arias that convey the message of that interaction. These arias are rarely from the same show or the same composer. The result is a new 3-act opera crafted from a mish-mash of arias, with a plot that is often some pastiche of current culture. The performers seem to be having great fun with this creation; it is far from your normal staid opera.<\/p>\n

I am certain that the theme for this year’s show was crafted around the class makeup: 24 girls, 1 guy. What better to parody than “The Bachelor”. In this case, it was a web series called “Cow Country Bachelor”, where a single guy, Vinnie Mahal, was the target for a lot of wannabees. The three acts all related to the show: The first act was at the regional auditions for the show; the second act was at a training facility for drag queens being used by the show; the third act was at Vinnie’s mansion where he was making the final selections. As for the title? Instead of a rose, he gives a “golden lasso”.<\/p>\n

The characters reflected the creativity of the artists. Here’s a typical character bio to give you an idea:<\/p>\n

Gwendolyn Gray is a thirty year old woman in mid-life crisis. She is klutzy, chatty, and unobservant. Her occupation as a chicken sexer is quite demanding, yet she finds time to attend every speed dating event in town. Her biggest fear is matching her clothing day to day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This year’s show was quite entertaining.<\/p>\n

In the first act, we are introduced to a number of different characters who want to be on the show, as well as the producer and wrangler, and a videographer. Memorable characters were Lou Ann, a character who entered the competition drunk; Kathy “Honey” Fayette, who keeps trying to get on the show; and Chastity Bliss White, who had the most unique look of the various characters. Memorable performers, a week out, were Alexandra Logue, Julia Gmeiner, and Suzanne Ramo. Best bios were Harvey Wendell and Angelina Bacciagalupe. Performers, their characters, and their arias were as follows (in performance order); the pianist was Douglas Sumi<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>)\u00a0(Harvey Wendell):<\/p>\n