Word: shadgett
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Directed by Lane Shadgett...
...lighting was also an integral part of the creativity and uniqueness of the show. It not only helped to achieve and change the mood and atmosphere of the opera but was more often than not also used in creative ways to further the plot. As Shadgett explains, "The opera had a number of 'tough spots' where we either didn't want to or couldn't afford to do things as they were traditionally done...Killing the Queen of the Night by having the light dissolve her shadow was our alternative to the stage direction, 'They sink into the earth.'" Shadgett...
...orchestra, brought together specially for the Dunster House Opera, was extremely poised, supporting and leading the singers with full assurance. Lane Shadgett '00, the director of the Opera, comments, "Michael McNabb '02, our music director, brought the orchestra and singers together much earlier than is normally done in productions like this...This helped keep the orchestra interested in the production, and gave the singers the confidence to sing aggressively." The orchestra's preparedness and togetherness certainly gave the show a firmness and competence that added to the solidity of the performance as a whole...
...Though the gap in the center of the stage with surrounding flats that could be lit from behind were part of the original design, set designer John Hulsey "took these initial ideas and ran with them to create a performance space with so much flexibility and visual appeal," Shadgett reports. The protruding white backdrops, along with the u-shaped stage, indeed contributed to the "visual appeal" of the show. (Particularly commendable is the fact that this dynamic but unwieldy set was taken down after after every performance so that Dunsterites could get their dining hall back...
...energy and the enthusiasm that the opera brought forth were certainly invigorating and enjoyable. From the cast to the orchestra to the lighting and staging arrangements, all came through well organized, polished, and brilliantly creative. In the words of director, Shadgett, "Undergraduates have a sort of raw enthusiasm, a willingness to experiment, and a love for performing which one often cannot find in older, more 'experienced' singers." Indeed, the Dunster House Opera's performance of The Magic Flute was refreshing, creative and thoroughly delightful...