“The Perfect Wife,” a comic opera, will be presented by the Texarkana Community College Music and Drama Departments, Friday, December 8 at 8:00 p.m. in the Trinity Presbyterian Church on Robison Road.
Adapted for modern audiences and sung in English, the opera is the oldest existing musical-comedy. Pergolesi wrote “The Perfect Wife” as a comic relief inter-act to offer a “diversion from the diversions” of the sophisticated audience of the Baroque period.
TCC’s production will be a staged concert version from an open stage accompanied by a stringed orchestra. The story concerns an ambitious young housekeeper-maid, sung by Yvette Najarto, who wants to become the mistress to her master. The master, a frugal Italian, is sung by Maurice Johnson, Kean Hill dances the mute man-servant.
The orchestra is composed of Max Decker, first violin; Erby Burgess, second violin; Sandy La Ralph Simmons, Viola Burgess, cello; and David Barnett, bass. Sue McCrossen, music director for the production is the pianist.
“Since the Paris production in August, 1752 the original score has been altered to suit the tastes of the audience and, no doubt, the whims of the producer,” said Nancy Katon, production director. “In our production recitatives are spoken dialogue. In the Paris revision, we too, have added our own touch in the addition of interpretive dancing by the mute servant Vespone.”
There is no charge for admission.