FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Diane Alexander plays widow Hanna Glawari, above.
Musical perfect
place to start
For those who love musical theater, but haven't bothered to attend any of Hawaii Opera Theatre's previous productions, "The Merry Widow" may just be the perfect introduction for them.
Wrapping up this season's "Songs of Love and War," the perennially popular operetta features not only quality opera singers like guest lyric coloratura soprano Diane Alexander, but it's done in English, it's got dialogue, there's waltz melodies and high-kicking can-can lines, and plenty of hedonistic, romantic doings and light comedy.
Hawaii Opera Theatre presents "The Merry Widow"
Where: Blaisdell Concert HallWhen: 8 tonight, 4 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
Call: 596-7858
Alexander counts this production of "The Merry Widow" as her 8th in the role of the young, rich widow Hanna Glawari, who comes from the fictitious Balkan country of Pontevedro, who now resides in late 19th century Paris.
"I first did the role in 1994 in Omaha, Neb.," she said, "and I actually will play it again three more times in other productions spread out through next year. It's becoming one of my standard roles, one that I'm building a reputation on."
Alexander was born and raised in Rhode Island, and now resides with her husband of 3 years in San Diego, Calif.
Franz Lehár's operetta has a rather convoluted story, but Alexander said it's basically about "a young widow with a lot of money who goes to Paris to win back the heart of an old lover, and in the midst of all this, there are substories going on with a lot of dancing and wonderful singing, and I get to do the signature aria 'Vilia.'
"I look at my character as a down-to-earth woman with an air of sophistication. She's the girl next door who knows how to put on airs, because she's inherited all this money, which is not touched on in the show. She knows how to hold her ground, but we can see some of her vulnerability through her past relationship. But, overall, there's a lot of fun and joy, and a wonderful show for new audiences."
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Louis Otey, left, plays Count Danilo Danilovitch in Hawaii Opera Theatre's production of "The Merry Widow."
"The Merry Widow" is the most popular of Lehár's works, and his most memorable due to its music and story. Although it had an original German libretto, it's done in English more often than not these days, and in different versions. "Because it's an operetta, there's always been a tendency for directors to go ahead and tweak the script, so to speak."
Another thing with operettas is that opera singers have to be believable actors and, in this case, dancers. So don't be surprised to see Alexander doing more than the waltz in this production. "In fact, this is one of the few time where I have to stretch between acts," she admitted. "But this production has a great cast -- it's very much an ensemble show -- and the chorus has come to find out that they're very much involved in this show."
A PROFESSIONAL for 15 years, Alexander says, in her career, she has to "audition a lot -- I'm like a subcontractor.
"But it's always been my dream to do this, and I have the drive to keep going. I won a Metropolitan Opera competition back in 1991, and in winning a previous bel canto competition, I got to spend the summer in Italy to study.
"I feel that I'm at the very beginning of the best years of my career. I feel more confident on stage vocally and I'm ready to now to start the prime years. I also have a wonderful personal life, so all the ducks are in a row. As for the role of Hanna Glawari in 'The Merry Widow,' I started off kind of young for the role, and now I can see myself doing it for another 10 years -- so long as I can keep up with the high kicks!
"I've so enjoyed being here," Alexander said. "The people in the chorus has been so welcoming, and they deserve a lot of applause because they've worked really, really hard. And the hospitality has been wonderful."
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