‘Do Not Disturb’ at Capital Fringe. Graphic Design by Maura Kimble.
The Forgotten Opera Company is the “alter-ego” of The Victorian Lyric Opera Company, and could perhaps be described as the ‘new music wing’ of the company. A community theatre company based in Rockville, they perform light opera and have brought a brand new piece, Do Not Disturb to Capital Fringe this year. The quality of the production is extremely high, and Rebecca Henry’s precision as musical director, on display during the performance as conductor, has brought together a clear and confident cast of singers, who never miss a musical note or beat.
The story revolves around Ethan Rosenblum (Sean Pflueger, who also wrote the music), at a lakeside resort, and involves a secret rendezvous between a high-profile lawyer (Ethan’s boss) and a judge, mistaken identities, and three doors which inevitably lead to confusion and three different beds. The story is, of course, cliché, but that is the point. Farce relies on the wrong people going through the wrong doors, like jape relies on pies being thrown into the wrong face. On the whole, the show is more sweet than laugh-out-loud funny, and perhaps the biggest laughs come from the surprise of banal lines being sung operatically. The show opens with a singing GPS system singing “please drive to highlighted route.”
Do Not Disturb is best described as operetta, though it also has the familiar feel of an old-fashioned musical. There is a pleasing, if strange, mismatch between the old-fashioned style of story and storytelling, and the prominence of smartphones through the narrative. The company is clearly very comfortable with operetta, and Sean Pflueger’s vocal performance, in particular, is assured and beautiful. He writes to his strengths, and he knows his company well, who all rise to the occasion in producing a seamless evening of musical performance. Alexandra Friendly’s voice is well controlled, and her performance convincing as Ethan’s exasperated girlfriend, while C.J.David’s disaffected youth routine as the apathetic resort receptionist is handled marvellously, even through the beautiful operatic tone he possesses and expresses effortlessly. The whole company renders the small surtitles provided unnecessary with their clear articulation and projection throughout.
…a clear and confident cast of singers, who never miss a musical note or beat.
There is no set designer listed, and while the set was functional in delineating location, it became less functional in performance, with long set-changes requiring a large crew, and without adding a great deal to the overall impression of the piece. The libretto, by Laura Wehrmeyer Fuentes, is concise and direct, with some gentle couplets, internal rhymes, and enough latin legal innuendo to last many lifetimes.
The piece itself is very clearly delivered and also very clearly written. But this is also the writing’s biggest weakness. There is no proverbial grit to make the pearl. The writing is too clear. While opera can deal with weighty subjects in weighty ways, operetta has its own power. It can manage the grand or the frivolous and should be convincingly melodic, but can also be musically witty. Similarly, old-fashioned musicals possess a rich harmonic language, in addition to their catchy tunes. Do Not Disturb needs something more. There is enough character in the story, by Pflueger, Michael Hock and Fuentes, even if it is deliberately ‘old hat,’ but the music never comes to life. It needs some character. Farce needs pace, but the music strolls along at a gentle tempo throughout, almost dragging the action back rather than pushing it forward. The piano dominates the orchestra, and the writing for the instrument is simplistic. The songs are comfortably singable and flow well without ever becoming satisfyingly melodic or distinct.
Nevertheless, the production itself is an impressive undertaking and an admirable approach to bringing new work to life, particularly for a community theatre company, who are admirably at ease and dedicated to this new work. The show was well attended the night I saw it, and might be a tricky ticket to get a hold of, so get in quick.
Running Time: 90 minutes no intermission.
Advisory : For ages 13 and up. “This show contains profanity.”
Do Not Disturb runs until July 23 at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002, as part of Capital Fringe. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866.811.4111 or online here.
