Chautauqua Offers Beautiful Production of ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’
Published in the Post-Journal (Jamestown, NY)
July 17, 2008
By Robert W. Plyler
CHAUTAUQUA - Chautauqua offers a beautiful little fable on the stage of Norton Hall, this week, in a production of ''The Cunning Little Vixen,'' by Leos Janacek.
Less than two hours long, the beautiful production tells a very simple tale: A forester is sleeping in the forest, when he discovers Sharp Ears, a young vixen or female fox, who has wandered away from the pack. He takes her home for a pet, but she finds the blind obedience in which his chickens turn over their eggs for their master's use, to be unbearable.
As is the nature of foxes, she slaughters the entire flock of chickens, and escapes to the woods. There, she meets Golden Mane, a male fox, and the two marry and set up housekeeping in the den of a sluggish old badger, whom they drive from his home.
Eventually, the vixen becomes something of a legend among the humans of the village, from the many times she has outwitted those who would stop her independence, or who would own her beautiful pelt, and sure enough, eventually, she taunts one person too many, and becomes the muff which warms the hands of his future bride.
The set by Ron Kadri is beautiful, possibly inspired by illustrations painted by Maritza Morgan for a children's book of the fable, in the 1980s. Christopher Ostrom lights the set wonderfully, creating the illusion of passing seasons in a beautiful, deep forest.
The orchestra is small, only 16 players, and performs beautifully. Janacek's music is richly melodic and wonderfully appealing. Ari Pelto conducts sensitively and most effectively.
The costumes, involving a great many young children as ants, butterflies, a rabbit, a squirrel, and of course a whole family of foxes, are delightful, and add to the magical feeling of the story. They were designed by Nancy Leary.
Jay Lesenger directed his own conception of the tender fable, getting us easily past the idea that yes, these are human singers in costumes, so we can put that in the back of our minds and think of them as animals. Because of the costumes and the very readable acting, there's never any doubt of what is happening on the stage, but it must be said that even though the opera is sung in English, it was rarely possible to make out the words.
Philip Corkorinos sang beautifully as the forester. Sari Gruber was bold and vocally impressive as the vixen.
The composer has made all of the human characters, singers with deep voices - basses, baritones and contraltos - except the poor, shy schoolmaster, who fails to win his sweetheart and is sung by a tenor.
The animals, on the other hand, are nearly all sung by women, regardless of their intended gender. During intermission, I overheard some audience members trying to work out that Golden Mane, the vixen's husband, is male, although he was sung by Elizabeth Pojanowski.
This production is stunningly beautiful to the eye and the ear. It is wise to read the synopsis in the program, before the performance begins, although as I said, it isn't hard to make out what is happening. It might be a wonderful way to introduce a young person to opera, although one word of caution, it does not shy away from elements of nature which can be cruel and unsentimental.
''The Cunning Little Vixen'' was reviewed in dress rehearsal, at the request of the company. It will be performed Friday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Norton Hall, on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.