| "The Tree" an urbane opera, is the Los Angeles | | | | together, struggle for survival on many levels. To |
| Theatre Center's last and final production before | | | | give away all the twists and turns of this plot |
| being transformed into The Latino Museum of | | | | would be unfair, but I do suggest reading the |
| History, Art and Culture and The Latino Theatre. | | | | synopsis in the program before curtain, as with |
| We are grateful for this transformation, to see | | | | any opera or show to help prepare your mindset. |
| the loss of a theater is a punch in the gut to | | | | From the moment I heard the dissonant overture |
| theater lovers. It is wonderful to know that the | | | | with its' moving chordage of acoustic piano and |
| Latino Arts Community is stepping forward to | | | | punchy percussion, I knew I was in for an |
| offer such a rich history to explore and a | | | | emotional ride. Funky, bold, operatic, jazzy, |
| renewed arts life shall emerge."The Tree" is a | | | | Baroquey to Broadway influenced, Linda Dowdell, |
| fantastically worthy farewell to this glorious but | | | | would make every major musical songwriter and |
| neglected theater house. "The Tree" is overall a | | | | arranger proud. She is a powerhouse of musical |
| magnificent production, with just a couple of | | | | expression and uses her talents as a serious |
| suggestions here and there that prevent me from | | | | playground of musical stylings, from classical-like, |
| a total gush. Don't let the word "opera" pigeonhole | | | | witty marches, sprawling waltzes, musical theatre |
| your thoughts or preconceive your notions to | | | | chattiness, and operatic ballads. Using rich, |
| scare you away from a melting pot of creativity | | | | complex, multi- harmonies and chordal modulations |
| that draws you into this poignant, poetic, clever, | | | | that know how to manipulate an emotion, you will |
| witty and moving storyline. This production is as | | | | marvel at the musical diversity.(Is there nothing |
| contemporary as they come, with bejeweled and | | | | this woman can't write?) Ms. Dowdell, a New York |
| eclectic costuming by Karen Kiisel, who adds a | | | | based |
| nutmeggy kind of visuality that will delight and | | | | composer/arranger/musical/director conductor, |
| surprise. Feng Sheuish set design by Tanya | | | | clearly is versatile in many musical stylings. She is |
| Kovaleski, Max Hendler and Claire Keith will tickle | | | | best known for her ten years of performances |
| your imagination. Extravagant lush libretto written | | | | with artists such as (too many to name) Yo -Yo |
| and directed by Peter Wing Healey, is nothing less | | | | Ma and Mikhail Baryhnikov, for The White Oak |
| than stunningly brilliant. Mr. Wing Healey, a world | | | | Dance Project, original pianist and musical director, |
| renowned expressive, prophetic, distinctive, ballet | | | | tenured pianist and musical director of the Mark |
| modern dance master, choreographer/librettist | | | | Morris Dance Group and worked with The |
| writer/ director/ visionary and founder of "The | | | | Mesopotamian Opera with her 1991 opera |
| Mesopotamian Opera Company, whose operas | | | | "Norma" ( seems like Wing Healey and Dowdell |
| have been performed in such venues as The | | | | were destined to create something grand.) |
| R.A.P.P. Arts Center and Alice Tully Hall, (to name | | | | Dowdell is a recipient of "Performa" and "Meet |
| a few), has gotten much notice in various | | | | The composer" grants, a Tribecca Performing |
| prestigious theater publications, the dance, theater | | | | Arts Center Artist - in - Residence 2004-2005 |
| and opera world worldwide. His operas and plays | | | | (New York). If that doesn't grab you, meet the |
| include "The Mummy" "Jane Heir" "Sunset Salome" | | | | trees, who anthropomorphize, come alive, and |
| "The Ben Franklin Opera "Thyestes' Feast" and | | | | express themselves through a combination of |
| now "The Tree''. Mr. Wing Healey, worked both as | | | | lyrical and modern dance movement creating the |
| primary dancer and rehearsal director for the | | | | many moods and wittiness of these uprooted |
| infamous Mark Morris Dance Group, known for | | | | foliage. The cast, Superb magical voices! Soaring! |
| their stunning modern dance works and The | | | | Chill inspiring! Most of the actors played two and |
| White Oak Project with legendary Mikhail | | | | three roles, save for the leads, Mathew |
| Bayshnikov, as balletmaster, and on the John | | | | Edwardsen, as the architect and Lucia Lynn |
| Adams/Peter Sellers opera "Nixon in China" at | | | | (sharing with Khorshed Dastoor) as the Spirit. The |
| The Houston Grand Opera. (Need I say more.) His | | | | duets between Edwardsen and Lynn were |
| screenplay "Grand Central" was given a rare | | | | breathtaking. Mayra Bassaraba as the tree |
| reading and "Thyestes' Feast" was published (in | | | | Tolorosa Dellaroyo is also to be singled out for her |
| part) after winning The Papotage Writer's | | | | alto work. |
| Competition."The Tree"The re-telling of an | | | | "THE TREE" spearheaded by Peter Wing Healey |
| important ancient Shinto myth is the premise of | | | | and Linda Dowell has also given "growth" to the |
| this unusual show combined with the Americans' | | | | continuation of collaboration between Ms. Dowdell |
| view point of our present day ,"gotta have | | | | and Peter Wing Healey. Their shared backgrounds |
| more", "gotta have it now","nothing is ever good | | | | in dance and opera, have inspired both of these |
| enough", egoist attitude, "The Tree" will surely | | | | virtuoso creatives towards a rhythmic, moving, |
| turn your thoughts inward as you feel the pathos | | | | modern innovation, theatrical extravaganza of a |
| for the spirit of the tree, Jessica, an aging oak, | | | | grand storytelling and a message that will melt |
| rooted on a ridge, outside a small town. The soul | | | | your heart, open your eyes and spirit to a world |
| of this wondrous tree falls in love with a poetic | | | | message of the possiblities |
| young man Frank, an architect (convenient?) | | | | of our future. This show has all the potential of |
| trying to find their way in the reality of the | | | | becoming a classic! |
| present day urbane mall sprawl, Jessisa and Frank | | | | |