Krista Pino
Daily Lobo
The UNM Orchestra and students from the opera theater course perform a love story in the revised opera, "Thoroughly Modern Martha" at Keller Hall this weekend.
"I call it a romp," said Director Marilyn Tyler. "It's very funny."
Two friends, Lady Harriet Durham and Nancy, venture off for a weekend at Stately Manor, a hotel and spa. Lady Harriet takes on an alias, Martha.
As the story progresses, the girls meet two boys, Russell Plunkett and his foster brother Lionel, the owners of Stately Manor.
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Nancy and Harriet think they are much more sophisticated than the boys, though later it is revealed that one of the men is a lord.
The boys convince the women to work for them at the hotel, though they are unaware of their new employees' domestic disabilities.
Jennifer Stump, who plays Lady Harriet, said she identifies with Lady Harriet more than Martha.
"I don't like to work, and I'm domestically disabled," Stump said.
Tyler said he agreed that Stump has added a great sense of humor to the character of Lady Harriet.
During the run of the show, the cast is changed for each performance. Playing the role of Nancy, Cody Wesner said it is great to share the roles.
"You are able to see what someone else brings to the character," Wesner said.
Samantha Phillips, who shares the role of Martha, said that the role was a challenge in finding the balance of using your own character and jumping outside of yourself to make them come to life.
Nick Lujan and Javier Ortiz share the role of Russell Plunkett.
"We learned the role together and bounced ideas off each other," Ortiz said.
Tyler said though the actors worked together, they are certainly not clones.
"It's a fun role," Lujan said. "We bring comic relief to the other leads."
Keller Hall has been transformed into a beautiful stage. With support from students, faculty and alumnus, a UNM Opera Theater cast offers a professional opera experience.
This is the department's major production this semester with the UNM Orchestra conducted by maestro Jorge Perez-Gomez. Tyler wrote a whole new story for this opera because the original was set in the time of Queen Anne, which would have required complicated costumes and sets.
The actors have been working on their roles since January. There are musical breaks for dialog, but Tyler said they retained beautiful melodies and ensembles that made the opera famous in its original form.
"It's most challenging because you have to act, sing well and watch the conductor and make it look natural," Cammy Woods said.
"We get as many people involved from alumni and friends as we possible can," Tyler said.
This is a huge production done on a small budget. Tyler said it is time consuming and especially difficult to put together a production of this quality and beauty with a lack of financial support.
"The production keeps getting better," said Kyle Woods, who is playing his first major role as Lionel.
"And the funding gets less," Tyler added.
Cast members Bekka Tiesling and Amanda Lantz expressed their enthusiasm about future experiences they look forward to in the program. And Lorraine Sanchez replied with an emotional praise to the cast members that it has been an exciting experience.
"There is so much talent and energy and enthusiasm," Sanchez said. "Everybody here is marvelous."
What: "Thoroughly Modern Martha"
When: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Where: Keller Hall
Price: $12 students, $15 general admission
