A New Opera at LCT
One of the perks to interning at Lincoln Center Theater is getting to see and be part of so many amazing productions. This season, LCT is producing an original musical, FLYING OVER SUNSET, Christopher Chen’s THE HEADLANDS, and a new opera, INTIMATE APPAREL, with music by Ricky Ian Gordon and libretto by Lynn Nottage, based on her play by the same name.
For weeks, INTIMATE APPAREL has been in rehearsals, and I’ve had the honor of being involved every step of the way. I met the full company on their first day, saw their performance at the Guggenheim’s Works and Process event, and was able to see their last dress rehearsal before going into previews. The production is stacked with talented, powerhouse singers. Their voices have enough power to break down even the sturdiest walls, and as someone who’s used to seeing and being part of musicals, it was quite the experience seeing an opera for the first time. The biggest difference? Knowing when and where it was appropriate to applaud.
The production follows Esther (Kearstin Piper Brown), a lonely African-American seamstress who eventually embarks on a letter writing relationship with George (played by Justin Austin), a laborer from Panama. They eventually wed and embark on an unhappy marriage, leading Esther to realize that only her self-confidence will see her through life’s challenges. It’s a beautiful story, and while I’ve been told opera’s can be difficult to follow, I had no trouble following this story. While at times it was difficult to understand certain words, it helped having projected subtitles to reference.
The opera is performed in Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse, one of LCT’s more intimate spaces, no pun intended. When Catherine Zuber’s costumes hit the stage, it was hard to look away. They are absolutely breathtaking, and it’s clear that a lot of thought went into each character. The set design, by Michael Yeargan, is STUNNING, made of natural wood planks which provides a nice canvas for the tale. There’s even a turntable that’s utilized throughout in Bartlett Sher’s (Director) blocking. It’s certainly a BEAUTIFUL production!
Some of my favorite performances from INTIMATE APPAREL include Naomi Louisa O’Connell as Mrs. Dickson, Krysty Swann as Mayme, Arnold Livingston Geis as Mr. Marks, and Kearstin Piper Brown as Esther. It was clear that each of these singers put their hearts into each character, and their performances left me drawn in throughout. I hope to see it again on opening night, and if you have the opportunity, you don’t want to miss this new opera!
PREVIEWS: February 27th through March 22nd | PERFORMANCES: March 23rd through