MORGAN HILL
– The South Valley Civic Theatre will perform the farce
”
Lend Me a Tenor
”
as the inaugural play in its new home at the Morgan Hill
Community Playhouse today.
MORGAN HILL – The South Valley Civic Theatre will perform the farce “Lend Me a Tenor” as the inaugural play in its new home at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse today.
“I really think SVCT, with its past reputation of doing excellent shows, will do this new theater proud,” said Kevin Heath, who plays the spineless opera company assistant “Max” in the play.
The adult comedy is a send-up of the world of grand opera, he said. World-famous tenor, Tito Merelli, arriving late for his role as Otello at the Cleveland Grand Opera, suddenly passes out from an unwise dose of relaxation aids. Max secretly takes Tito’s place on stage and the confusion grows when Tito wakes up and there are two tenors to deal with.
The play was written by Ken Ludwig and originally opened on Broadway in March 1989, winning two Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle honors.
It’s set in a hotel room in 1934 Cleveland, Ohio, and much of the furniture on the stage was loaned by Rosso’s Furniture Store.
The fast-paced twists and turns in the plot are sure to provide a fun evening for South Valley theatergoers, Heath said.
“Every character has to have a lot of energy to get through what they’ve got to get through,” he said. “There’s a few surprises in the show that the audience will not be expecting. They’ll be rolling in the aisles.”
Dave Leon of San Jose plays Tito and says he’s developed a characterized Italian accent for the role.
“Tito is brash, he’s a bit full of himself,” Leon said. “But beneath all that, he’s a bit of a softy. He has a soft-spot for Max.”
“Lend Me a Tenor” has eight actors performing in it and Leon enjoys the close camaraderie this small cast provides.
“I enjoy shows with small casts because you get to know everyone” he said. “I like the intimacy of small shows.”
Christine Varela plays Tito’s wife “Maria Merelli,” and it’s her jealous streak that sets in motion the twists and turns surrounding the play’s farcical plot.
“She’s a jealous, high-strung, passionate woman,” Varela said. “But she has a lot of love and passion for her husband.”
Varela is impressed with the excellent design of the new Morgan Hill theater and says the best feature is the intercoms in the two dressing rooms which allow the actors to hear the dialogue on stage and know when they’re suppose to get ready for their entrance.
JoAnna Evans plays “Diana,” an opera singer with dreams of performing in the New York Metropolitan Opera. Diana slyly plans to use Tito to fulfill that dream.
“Diana is ambitious and talented and will do anything – anything – to get to the top,” she said.
SVCT board member Steve Spencer plays the president of the Cleveland Grand Opera. He said he enjoyed developing the stuffed-shirt character.
“He is a man who is in charge,” he said. “He loves to brow-beat Max, his assistant.”
Pat Cianci plays “Julia Leverett,” the chairman of the Cleveland Grand Opera whose aristocratic style is accented by the high-class black-lace with sequins dress she wears during the play.
“But the dress really came from the Gilroy Goodwill for $5,” she said with a smile.
Cianci and Evans both praised director Marion Pintello for how well they believe the SVCT’s performance of “Lend Me a Tenor” has been developed.
“Marion is wonderful to work with,” Evans said. “She’s got a lot of clear vision. And she’s willing to take input.”
Dick DeBolt plays a bell hop in the play who, he said, because of all the confusion surrounding the mistaken identities of the two tenors, is “really kept hopping.”
The show was produced by Marie Haluza and Janet Espinosa, and they encourage locals to come to today’s opening of the show which will include a free reception in the lobby after the performance.
Haluza said the new 186-seat theater is truly a gift for SVCT and the South Valley community because it will provide a permanent place for five shows – 10 performances each – every year. In the past, the theater company has jumped around the three South Valley communities, performing at Gilroy High School, Live Oak High School, a storeroom at Rosso’s Furniture, and even on an outside stage at the San Martin Pumpkin Patch.
“Boy, it got cold some nights at the Pumpkin Patch,” Haluza recalls with a smile.
Information:
What? Adult comedy about the mishaps of a world-famous tenor during opening night 1934 at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. Performed by the South Valley Civic Theatre.
Where? Morgan Hill Community Playhouse at Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue.
When? Feb. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and March 1 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.
How much? Adults: $15; Students and Seniors: $12.
Details? call 842-7469 or check the Web site www.svct.org.
