SUCKER
(2007-8) an opera in one act IN PROGRESS Duration ~40 minutes when complete |
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SYNOPSIS |
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With
one foot in popular culture and television soap opera, the other firmly
planted in traditional opera – based on a true story, SUCKER is
an exciting, original hybrid of the established form. An attractive
mixture of serious and popular music is the backdrop to the dark, dramatic,
sometimes comic stage action. The story begins at an engagement party
for Jessica and John Dyer, the ex-wife and best friend of Bert Prestridge,
an aging, hard working, depressed, lonely divorcee. As events unfold
we come to find out Bert’s best friend had an affair with his
wife. A mutual acquaintance bravely comes forward to confess all that
has happened behind his back, and Bert decides to confront the happy
couple. However he cannot find the courage. After a short fit of glee,
he begins a slow downward spiral, falling deeper and deeper into depression. |
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THE
CHARACTERS |
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Albert
Prestridge (Bert): Main Character, recently divorced. Jessica Dyer: Berts’s ex-wife, now married to John. John Dyer: Bert’s best friend, now married to Jessica. Sarah Janega: Bert’s friend from the record store. Al Hunt: Friend of Bert, John and Jessica. |
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INSTRUMENTATION |
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1
Flute 1 Bb Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Percussion Set-up 1: vibraphone, glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, bass drum. Set-up 2 (drum set): kick drum, snare drum, hi & low tom-toms, hi-hat, ride cymbal, 2 suspended cymbals, tambourine. Piano SATB Choir Soloists Albert Prestridge, lyric tenor Jessica Dyer, coloratura soprano John Dyer, baritone Sarah Janega, soprano Al Hunt, bass Narrator Violin I Violin II Cello Double Bass |
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| (midi realization) | score
sample |
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SUCKER
COPYRIGHT © 2008 BY JAMES BARRY (ASCAP) |
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