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SYNOPSIS
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With
one foot in popular culture, the other firmly planted in tradition
– based on a true story, SUCKER is an exciting, original
hybrid of established operatic form. The opera was conceived from a
songwriter’s point of view. That is, to tell a simple story
in my own words set to my own music. An accessible, tuneful, immediate
sound world draws from an attractive mixture of serious and popular
music. The libretto and dramatic structure were greatly influenced by
soap opera – obvious, a little kitsch, with lots of cliff
hangers.
Albert Prestridge, an aging, trusting, depressed, lonely divorcee, employed as a record store manager and night time paper delivery driver is a very unhappy man. The dark, overly dramatic, and slightly comical story begins at an engagement party for Bert’s ex-wife and best friend. As events unfold through the introduction of a colorful cast of characters, we come to find out Mr. Prestridge’s best friend had an affair with his wife, whom he is now marrying. An acquaintance bravely comes forward and confess this horrific betrayal hidden by his friends. Struck down by the terrible news, Bert begins a slow downward spiral, falling deeper and deeper into depression until he is no longer able to cope. |
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| THE CHARACTERS | INSTRUMENTATION | ||||
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Jessica: Berts’s ex-wife, now married to Ron. Ron: Bert’s best friend, now married to Jessica. Heather: Bert’s friend from the record store. Al: Friend of Bert, John and Jessica. |
Bert, lyric tenor; Jessica, coloratura
soprano Ron, baritone; Heather, soprano; Al, bass Narrator Piano or chamber orchestra version |
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| WATCH
SCENE EXCERPTS |
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Opera
On Tap - American
Opera Projects: Opera Grows in
Brooklyn
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| IScene 1: Happy | Scene 1: You and I | ||||
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| Scene 2: Bert's Lament | Scene 4: Jessica Cheated on You | ||||
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| Scene 2: Too Much P.D.A. | Scene 7: Remember Me | ||||
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| Scene 8: You Are a Loser | Scene 9: Scared, Alone | ||||
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| Scene 9: Fall Asleep | |||||
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| PERFORMANCE HISTORY | |||||
| « December
12, 2009, staged
reading
by Opera
On Tap Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, NY American Opera Projects: Opera Grows in Brooklyn CAST Amberleigh Aller, Seth Gilman, Sean Miller, Zack Rabin, Anne Ricci, Amanda Villegas STAGE DIRECTOR Kathleen Stakenas MUSIC DIRECTOR Christopher Berg PRODUCER Anne Ricci |
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SUCKER
Copyright © 2010 by James Barry (ASCAP)
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