Gallery Critiques

Student 8 Spring 2000

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.

The Magic Circle Opera put on a great performance of "A Childhood Miracle", which is an opera based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's A Snow Image - A Childish Miracle. The performers sung the story of children that built a sibling out of snow and it comes to life. However, their father makes the snow child come inside and he melts. (The opera was different from the story because in the story, Violet and Peony build a snow sister. In the opera, Violet and Peony build a snow brother and Violet falls in love with him.) Before the opera, some local middle schoolers performed a concert version of the story. The characters in this opera were: Mother - rmala Guerre; Father - Peter Castoldi; Peony - Stephanie Weams; Aunt Enma - Beverly Hil;l Violet - Darg Dunn; Snowman - Patrick Lynch.

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.

Rhythm was important to the effect of the performance. The rhythm changed when the tone or mood changed. When characters were angry or happy, the rhythm was fast (like when the snowman came to life.) When the characters were sad, the rhythm was slow (like when Violet and Peony ran away and their parents were looking for them). This performance was an example of idealism. It was ideal for for Violet and Peony to have a playmate. He was beautiful and he listened. It was just way better than reality could ever be. (Sorry that I don't know titles of songs because they adapted this from a short story.)

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)?

A special theme of this story is that sometimes common sense is not the best thing. For example, when the father notices another playmate with his daughters, he immediately makes him go inside by the fire. Of course, the snowman melts inside. Also, this performance suggests isolation and loneliness. Violet sang about her loneliness which she felt after attending her aunt's funeral. *This was an excellent performance. These people have a great vioces and amazing talent. I never thought I would like opera, but both performances were splendid!

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