Following a performance of the Capitol City Opera Company’s performance of “Hansel and Gretel,” a 6-year-old boy said his favorite part was when the children “pushed the witch in the behind.”
Except he used another word.
Out of the mouths of babes, indeed.
“Kids always have wonderful, fantastic answers that will surprise you,” said Tafee Patterson, administrator for CCOC and a performer with the company. “The talkbacks are my favorite parts of the show.”
Saturday, Capitol City Opera will visit the Creative Discovery Museum to present an abridged version of Engelbert Humperdinck’s (not the ’60s Brit pop artist) operatic adaptation of the Grimm Brothers tale in a 45-minute performance aimed at children.
IF YOU GOWhat: Opera for Kids Day.When: 2 p.m. Saturday.Where: Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St.Admission: Free with museum entry ($10.95).Phone: 756-2738.Website: www.cdmfun.org
According to a news release, this is the only event of its kind.
“Opera is a great experience, but most children aren’t as familiar with it,” said CDM’s arts manager, Liza Blair. “Opera is a great way to showcase two unique art forms, singing and stage performance, while celebrating the holiday season with the timeless classic ‘Hansel and Gretel.’ “
The members of the Atlanta-based opera company make the program interactive, even putting some children in costumes for onstage, nonspeaking parts.
“We go into the audience, and we talk to the audience,” said Patterson
They also speak to the audience before and after the show about what opera is. And part of the goal is to express that opera doesn’t have to be uptight.
“Right away, the students and even the adults learn that this isn’t hoity-toity, sit around and listen and applaud politely,” Patterson said. “It’s a living art form. We’re there to tell the story. We’re there to bring the story to life. It just happens to be through opera rather than spoken word.”
They use the story to speak to the children about lessons in responsibility and honesty by asking how Hansel and Gretel might have learned from their actions, that the audience may learn social lessons as well as artistic ones.
“It’s important for kids to have exposure to opera,” said Blair. “It’s steeped in so much culture … and it’s just fun.”