Choir Practice (2015)

It is choir night in a community hall in Vancouver, circa 1985. Dawn, the blind woman, arrives for her first rehearsal and Corey, the stuttering tenor, arrives for his entrance audition. Marilyn sings about her infatuation with him. Warm-ups, roll call and plenty of innuendos follow as the rehearsal for the national competition in Toronto begins. Frustrated by interruptions of Kenny the clown, a Diva, Adonia the belly dancer, and an Angry Man, Willie Stroker, the new director (and a serious womanizer), attempts to conduct. He fails. The two competing soloists in The Grand Hotel, Heather the drunk, and Julia, engage in insults during Ladies' Duel, their mutual hatred culminating in attempted murder. After the Policeman's gunshot, signaling a blackout, Fantasy Time - Dawn's Miracle emerges on the dimly lit stage of 'frozen' choristers. Dawn sings Seeing is Believing, magically leading the choir into a world of light, harmony, understanding and musical perfection- a miraculous transformation. Corey realizes that Marilyn is the girl of his dreams and sings Hanky-panky. The choir's problems are resolved in the rousing Finale: Darkness to Delight.

University of British Columbia Opera, 2015

Artists:

• Conductor - Jonathan Girard
• Director - Nancy Hermiston