Opening its 38th Main Stage Season is Norwalk’s Music Theatre of CT’s (MTC) production of “Master Class” — a play about the opera diva, Maria Callas by Terrence McNally.
Some opera fans may remember this opera star who was tragically booed off the stage because she suddenly lost her operatic voice. However, a wider audience may recall the scandal associated with her failed love affair with playboy, Aristotle Onassis (the richest man in the world at that time). It was rumored that Callas became pregnant by him and the male child was either aborted or died soon afterwards. Then Jackie Kennedy made international headlines when she married Onassis in 1975 and Callas mysteriously died in 1977 at age 53.
The soprano rose to international fame for her “bell canto” (Italian-style emotional singing). Callas was also well-known for being difficult to work with. McNally’s play is essentially a study of her so called “artistic temperament” – an acquired personality usually associated with European royalty. In other words, some persons who achieve fame and fortune become arrogant, kings, queens, dictators and have no regard for “the little people.”
Complete with Greek accent, facial expressions, and body language, Irene Glezos as “Callas” is very believable in her role. From the very beginning and throughout the production she masterfully plays with the audience and its technical crew –which includes MTC’s co-director, Jim Shilling, as a disgruntled “Stagehand.” Zachay Anderson is “Manny,” the polite, yet hopelessly bewildered, pianist/accompanist.
It’s near the end of her career, and “The Diva” proceeds to give a Master Class. Insults fly and tears ensue while students try to please Prima Donna Callas, who is as callus as her name.
Emily Solo plays the first student victim, “Sophie.” Dressed in a mini-skirt and exhibiting typical, teenage giddiness, she desperately tries to sing an aria from Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” (“The Sleepwalker”) and after just one note, is continually being interrupted and criticized from head to toe. It is evident that this is a “bel canto” aria that Callas once made famous and she is determined not to let anyone ruin it.
When Constantine Pappas as “Toni ”starts to sings an aria from Puccini’s “Tosca,” entitled “One Hurting Moment,” his expressive, silver voice is a show-stopper. This handsome fellow becomes the only person allowed to finish his piece while Callas gets lost in her own romanticisms.
In Act II, Heidi Giberson as “Sharon,” makes a smiling, confident entrance and magnificently begins an aria from Verdi’s “Macbeth.” Soon, she is so downgraded that she suddenly walks off. The play’s turning point is when the singer bravely re-enters the scene and sparks start to fly.
The cast of Equity Actors is wonderfully directed by MTC’s Kevin Connors. Best of all, you don’t have to go to Broadway to see a good show.
