Funny, Fantastical Opera: Mozart’s Magic Flute

Nathan Gunn as Papageno in a scene from Act II of Mozart’s “€œThe Magic Flute” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

From the Orcas Center

“This Flute’s a hoot! Run, don’t walk!” The New Yorker

This family-friendly performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute will be on screen at Orcas Center Saturday, Dec 1 at 6:30 pm.

Directed by Tony Award winner Julie Taymor (The Lion King, Spiderman), this encore from The Met: Live in HD, was the groundbreaking broadcast that launched the Met’s heralded Live in HD series, seen in movie theaters around the world. Adults and children alike will be enchanted by the whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry of Julie Taymor’s hit production, presented in a shortened English-language version.

Opera and kids? You may ask. The next time you want your kid’s attention, try an operatic voice. You might get a big laugh, but guaranteed, he or she will be listening. Encourage an operatic response and you have full attention and roars of laughter.

Kids who have the privilege of being taken to an opera are fascinated by the voice inflections, the costumes, and the movement of the actors. Children love to play dress-up and most operas have amazing costumes. Teens are attracted to the elaborate staging of concerts and they enjoy loud expressive music. Listening to different forms of music stimulates the mind as well as the musical soul.

So, why all this writing about opera for kids? It is because of Julie Taymor’s family-friendly adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Featured are stunning giant-size puppets by Taymor. The costumes are colorful and elaborate, and there is a spectacular set. The characters are lively, silly, engaging and charming in this one and a half hour performance, sung in English. The HD filming makes you feel as if you are in the front row of the opera

A fun-filled Puppets and Wearable Art reception from 4:30 – 6:30 pm precedes the performance, and a variety of interactive activities will set the mood for the opera, including. story-telling, puppet making, music and snacks all in keeping with the themes The Magic Flute.

All are also invited to dress in the costume of their favorite character in the opera. Come as a Prince, Princess, Birdcatcher or Queen of the Night.

“The Magic Flute is the one show you must take the whole family to see this year. It’s a brilliant piece of theatre, and a brilliant example of what opera can be in the 21st century.” Opera Australia

“The Magic Flute is half mystery play, half street comedy. The Met stage has never been so alive with movement, so charged with color, so brilliant to the eye. The outward effect is of a shimmering cultural kaleidoscope, with all manner of mystical and folk traditions blending together. ” The New Yorker

Tickets for The Magic Flute encore from The Met: Live in HD are $15 for adults and $11 for students ($2 off for Orcas Center members) and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon- 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2012 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.