The Bartered Bride
The Friday Performance
| From
the
20th to 23rd
April Preston
Opera
presented the
comic opera The Bartered Bride by Bedrich Smetana.
The show was produced by Diane Mackley and the
Musical Director was Robin Newton. The story is set in a village in Eastern Europe early in the 19th Century and concerns the machinations of the village marriage broker in arranging a marriage between two reluctant partners. Kecal, the marriage broker, has arranged the marriage between Marenka and Vasek, one of the sons of Micha. Marenka however is in love with Jenik whose parentage is unknown to her. Kecal buys off Jenik on the understanding that Marenka will marry the eldest son of Micha, who he believes to be Vasek, a simple minded young man with a pronounced stutter. Vasek however has been captivated by Esmeralda, a circus dancer and he agrees to become part of her act, dressed as a bear. Marenka is angry when she learns of the supposed bargain that Jenik has made with Kecal and is even angrier when she learns that Kecal insists that she marry Micha's eldest son. Much to Kecal's disgust, Micha's eldest son turns out to be Jenik who of course is Marenka's first love so everything ends happily except for Kecal. The principal parts on Friday were taken by Arthur Baines as Krusina, Pat Winters as Ludmila, Serenna Wagner as Marenka, Bill Borrow as Micha, Elizabeth Borrow as Hata, Petro Wychrij as Vasek, Chris Dodd as Jenik, Michael Parle as Kecal, Neil Winrow as Ringmaster, Emma Johnston as Esmeralda, Mike Bamford as Red Indian, Heidi Winrow as Tilda and Terry Martin as the bear. |
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Marenka with her lover Jenik |
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Marenka's parents "interview" the marriage broker. |
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The marriage broker Kecal.
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Kecal attempts to persuade Jenic to choose Tilda, a local heiress. |
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Shy Vasek is under pressure to marry, by his parents and by Kecal.
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Vasek's parents, Hata and
Micha meet Kecal
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Jenik finally signs the
contract which binds him,
as Micha's eldest son, to his true love Marenka!
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Go to "Saturday show" page for more pictures
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