Fringe Reviews
Overall rating
Still Singing
by Jason Byers
Rating 5 kitties
Loved the show! My wife and I are still singing our way through household chores... who knew opera could be so fun?!
Fantastic!
by Sue Van Ee
Rating 5 kitties
OperaBob
is fantastic! All of the performances were excellent. This should not
be missed! It is for opera lovers and those not-so-sure, alike. What
excellent talent in the Twin Cities!
Enjoy Opera
by Dale Brandsoy
Rating 5 kitties
Don't
miss an opportunity to try a taste of opera! You'll experience real
drama as well as several humorous arias by composer Phil Fried that
will certainly entertain you. Kudos to Opera Bob for sharing your love
of opera music!
No Clever Title: Just Bravo
by Marvin Joel Rubin
Rating 4 kitties
Every
year for me, there is one show that stands out. It is more than just
clever or entertaining. It's a show that brings out real emotion.
Most who think of soul music think R&B. The other kind is opera.
The
cast shined not only as singers, but as actors. Anna Brandsoy as Gemma
di Vergy was so evil towards The Count's new wife, I felt sorry for the
new bride.
The show presents scenes from lesser operas from great composers, with vignettes and speeches for transitions.
The
applause the show received was more than a usual Fringe event. The
Fringe doesn't have a history of standing ovations. I think there was a
desire to.
Take a Little Time for Opera
by Kay Jackson
Rating 4 kitties
Despite
their knowledge, talent and obvious love of the genre, the folks
involved in Opera Bob don't take themselves too seriously. As a result
they are able to share their passion for opera with a broad audience in
a truly delightful show. As special added bonus, this play features
what may be the best 2009 Fringe performance by a very young child.
Classical opera for the rest of us
by Ben Krywosz
Rating 4 kitties
This
is a wonderful introduction to Fringe-goers who are new to opera, as
well as a treat for long-time opera fans. The program consists of four
little-known excerpts from well-known composers (Mozart, Donizetti,
Verdi, Puccini) performed by up-and-coming young singer-actors -- well
directed, with a conviction that opera is both music and theater. A
couple of tongue-in-cheek musical commentaries by local composer Phil
Fried demonstrate that all these artists have a sense of humor about
what Samuel Johnson called this "exotic and irrational entertainment."
It's easy to revel in the sumptuousness of the ensemble singing, but
get there early enough to read the synopses printed in the program --
although the presentation honors the composer's preference for
performing in the language of the audience (bravo!), operatic vocal
production can sometimes blur diction a bit. Still, this is a
refreshing alternative if you need a break from more conventional
Fringe offerings.
I'm not an opera fan
by Nanette Stearns
Rating 5 kitties
but I loved this! Very talented musicians/actors presenting little-heard material. It was a lot of fun and very entertaining.
Awesome!
by Megan Wagner
Rating 5 kitties
Not
only does this group have great singing skills, but they also are great
actors! I loved the four scenes and the two arias that were composed by
Phil Fried! This is a must see by everyone! Job well done! Congrats on
a great opening night! This is something that shouldn't be missed!
Real people's opera
by Nicole Warner
Rating 5 kitties
This
is a wonderful adventure into the world of opera--filled with humor,
murder & mayhem, fantastic singing, real characters--it's a
wonderful show and well-deserving of your time & attention and your
review!
wonderful
by Erika Hoogeveen
Rating 5 kitties
What
an entertaining show! All of the singing was fantastic, the costumes
beautiful and the staging well done. It was a treat to hear and see.
Can't We All Just Be Impresarios
by Bernadette Christiansen
Rating 5 kitties
This
is a great show. I went expecting amazing singing and was not
disappointed. More surprising was the great staging and high fun
factor. My daughter and her fashion focused friend were both coveting a
couple of costumes. I loved all of the performers and Anna Brandsoy
stood out as a rising talent.
Rare Gems
by Gary Briggle
Rating 5 kitties
A
classy, sophisticated yet totally accessible and engaging performance
by very talented, skilled singer-actors. The production has such
integrity-from stylish design to flawless execution of challenging,
thrilling scenes from "lost" operatic masterpieces. The enthusiasm and
committment of the highly capable cast (with brilliant music director
at the piano)to highly expressive singing is amplified by director Will
Graham's expertly clear storytelling in beautifully nuanced, subtle
detail as well as marvellous masterstrokes of operatic melodrama at its
finest. BRAVI tutti!
[Next time, perhaps a different approach, without narration? And might one request some Contemporary selections?]
Top notch
by Scott Phillips
Rating 5 kitties
This
was a great show. The singing was absolutely professional caliber. If
you love opera or would like a painless introduction to it, I'd
absolutely recommend you check out Opera Bob!
That's entertainment!
by KrisAnne Weiss
Rating 5 kitties
A
thoroughly entertaining show by a bunch of performers who know that
opera is a little bit ridiculous, but can't help loving it anyway. Some
excellent singing and acting, and the enthusiastic narration keeps the
audience informed and engaged between scenes. A few powerhouse voices
in the ensemble ensure that the loud, high passages are really really
loud and high--at these moments, the venue is decidedly wrong for the
show (read: too small, acoustically inappropriate), but otherwise it's
fun to be so close to the performers. Phil Fried's parody arias are a
bonus.
Bravo!
by David Trudeau
Rating 5 kitties
Lovely
moving vignettes well sung and performed with comic relief along the
way. Opera lovers love it and non opera fans get introduced. I would
like to see the set changes done in the background as the narrative
intros are given. Too much time spent in blackouts.
Great Entertainment!!
by Beth Brill
Rating 5 kitties
Wow....how
entertaining and delightful! This group of talented, professional and
delightful young people make this a "must-see"!!
The combination of serious and "fun" opera appeals to a wide audience! Please see it Saturday!!
Thanks, Opera Bob!!
Mad-cap inspiration!
by Janis Hardy
Rating 5 kitties
This
was exactly what the doctor ordered for anyone worried about the future
of opera: talented young singer/actors with well-honed vocal skills and
excellent diction approaching some of the genre's most beautiful music
with exuberance and commitment. It was a delightful, inspiring evening!
The troupe was led with great care and skill by their talented
stage/artistic director, Will Graham, music director/pianist, Eric
McEnaney and producer, Janet Fried. Congratulations to all!
Loved It!
by Kathleen Malloy
Rating 5 kitties
A
sparkling, fresh performance. The spare scenery allowed me to
concentrate on the wonderful performances, which were sung and acted
with heart and obvious love for the genre. In particular, performances
by Trica Van E and Chandler Molbert were solid and beautifully
executed. More, more, more!! Bravo!
Good
by Kassie Church
Rating 4 kitties
Fun. Good voices and nice choices of scenes.
Exquisite Opera Sampler
by Justin Alexander
Rating 4 kitties
Four
tasty morsels of operatic delight with some cleverly rewritten hors
d'oeuvre in between. A thoroughly pleasant, funny, and dramatic way to
spend an hour. [N.B. Phil's compositions are original fakes not copies-it seems that I can fool some of the people some of...oh forget it!]
Changed MY attitude
by Rebecca Loeding
Rating 5 kitties
Who
knew Opera could be so fun! Enjoyed their beautiful voices, understood
the words, and laughed! "Next time text me" was a killer. Going again
on Saturday.