La Sonnambula

For the last opera of their 2016 season, independent company Operantics will stage Bellini’s La Sonnambula. Set in a Swiss mountain village, the story is of romance shadowed by deception, intrigue, misjudgement and hints of the supernatural.

Asked about the choice, producer Katie Miller-Crispe explains that it’s a crowd pleaser, it has lovely melodies and most of all – one of the singers in the company already knew all the songs. When you’re a fledgling, independent opera company with budget and time constraints, every little bit helps.

Miller-Crispe founded Operantics last year, investing her own capital in the absence of any government or private funding. The singers are all volunteers, happy for the chance to perform and garner experience in a playing field that offers few opportunities.

“If you want to develop as an artist and create new things and have a very specific thing that you want to do, then you have to do it yourself…” explained Miller-Crispe.

The small amount of money earned from ticket sales is predominantly allocated to costumes because the characters are the most important part of the production.

“We use minimal sets and props, partly because we can’t afford them and partly because we really want the singers to be the focus…”

Some scenery is provided via a projected backdrop. The projection also provides the surtitles, a must since all the productions are sung in their original language.

Nathanial Kong plays the piano reduction score under the musical direction of Keiren Brandt-Sawdy.

In the intimate, preserved art deco surrounds of the Independent Theatre in North Sydney, the opera, divested of all the usual production bling, will have a pure, “unplugged” feel. There won’t be any ‘sleepwalkers’ in the audience. (RB)

Sept 29–Oct 2 (7:30pm Thurs + Sat, 4pm Sun). The Independent Theatre, 269 Miller St, North Sydney. $15-$45. Tickets & info: www.operantics.com.au or www.theindependent.org.au or (02) 9409 4462

BY RITA BRATOVICH