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A Masked Ball
(Thursday performance)
| The spring production for Preston Opera was Verdi's A Masked Ball. The action was updated to the 1960s period in the USA. For the Thursday and Saturday performances the part of Riccardo (President) was taken by Chris Dodd, Renato (Chief of Staff) by David Palmer, Amelia by Laura Hudson, Ulrica by Heather Lupton, Oscar by Catherine Lindsay, Silvano by Ken Lewis, Sam (Vice President) by Keith Cawdron, Tom (Head of F.B.I.) by Arthur Baines, Chief Justice by John Phipps ans the Servant by Les Gilligan. The conductor was Dr. Colin Beeson and the show was produced by Brian Smith-Walters and Janet Fischer. |
The daily tour group arrives in the White house ballroom
Riccardo notices that the name of the woman he loves, Amelia, is on the list of those invited to the ball. Unfortunately she is the wife of Renato the chief of staff
Renato warns the president of a plot to kill him
The chief justice arrives and declares he wants the "witch" Ulrica to be banished. Oscar, the president's PA pleads her case
Ulrica begins her rituals in the tunnels beneath the White House 
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Riccardo demands a similar reading...but she predicts he will soon die. And he will die by the first person to shake his hand! |
This of couse turns out to be Renato...his best friend.
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Amelia
is desperate to rid herself of the love she feels for Riccardo. Ulrica
advises she pick at midnight a herb that grows in the tunnels |
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Riccardo meets her there and they declare their love for each other
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The dramatic moment when Amelia is discovered by her husband also in the presence of the conspiritors |
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Amelia suffers some rough justice by her husband who threatens to kill her. She pleads for an opportunity to see her only son |
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Renato remembers the good times of their marriage but rejects mercy and forgiveness and sets himself for revenge. |
| Renato forces Amelia to choose by lots the one who is to kill Riccardo. It is Renato! |
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| Riccardo dreams of one last meeting with Amelia |
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Amelia
finds Riccardo at the masked ball and warns him of the conspiracy. The
say with some dramatic irony "their very last farewells" |
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Renato
enters and skillfully inserts the knife into Riccardo. Riccardo has
enough breath in his body to announce his decision to send both to
England and also to forgive everyone. He declares Amelia to be innocent |
| Renato realises his error and all are horrified as Riccardo dies. |
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