Gallery Critiques

Student 11 Fall 1999

I. Please summarize the content and theme of the event you attended. If you attended a play, please summarize the plot and main characters. If a recital, please list the pieces and any relevant information you learned about them from the program notes. If a gallery exhibit, please list some sample works included there and some information from the display notes.

For this even I went to "The Magic Circle Opera". Like the last opera put on by these people, it too was great. "A Childhood Miracle" was indeed an opera, but it was based on A Snow Image-A Childish Miracle by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The story told of two young children playing in the snow who finallyy decide to build a snowman. To their surprise the nowman comes ture, but is more of a "snow sibling". The children's father sees them playing with the snowman and makes them all come inside. Unfortunately for the kids the snowman melts in the warm house. Although this version varied from hawthorne's story the basic theme or main idea remained the same. The main characters were Irma LaQuerre who played the mother, Beverly Hill who played Aunt Emma, Peter Castaldi who played the father, Darcy Dunn who played Vuolet, Stephanie Weems who played Peony, and Patrich Lynch who played the snowman.

II. Please ANALYZE the materials presented in terms of how they relate to our class materials. Consider the following points in your analysis and respond to as many of them as are relevant: What uses of color, line, shape, texture or rhythm were evident in the work(s)? Do any aspects of the performance or works in the exhibit illustrate functionalism? Realism? Idealism? Art and the Ordered Cosmos? Art as Self-Expression? If so, in what ways does the material illustrate these aesthetic schools of thought? Please list specific features of the performance which support your points.

Although realism did come into effect when the snowman came into the house and melted, I believe the majority of the play was idealistic. A playmate who listened and was able to have a good time with them was perfect. Although idealism played a big role so did the rhythm of the music. With the hapy times came the upbeat, cheerful music and with the sad times came the slower beats and gloomy music.

III. Finally, please list any other significant features of the performance that may not have been covered above. Were there any special themes or topics that were emphasized in the work(s)?

One significant feature of this performance was the fact that common sense is more important than people may think. So many times "book smarts" is overrated in my opinion. This was clearly portrayed when the man told the snowman to come inside the warm house. Unless I missed something I think it was pretty obvious that Mr. snowman was going to melt. I also noticed the hart time Violet was having. Not only was she saddened by the loss of her aunt, but also by the loss of her snow friend. Although I enjoyed the first opera "Women of Spirit", I enjoyed this one even more.

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