Let’s talk a little bit about the Cavalleria Rusticana I went to on June 30th in Poway.

You could feel the love in this production. While the singing was inconsistent from time to time, the dedication was at a hundred percent all the time.

With a score such as Cavalleria I expect a pick-up orchestra to struggle a bit but that wasn’t the case. Yes, there were a few moments when the singers and the pit were at cross purposes but by and large the orchestra was spectacular.

For me, the acid test in Cavalleria is the Easter Scene and the duet Ah lo vedi. I got goose bumps during both those scenes so I was a happy camper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT9IRKRFwO8

The element in this show that put it way over the top was the sketches between two young men at a bus stop which introduced each scene. When I say the sketches put this show over the top I mean it made the whole experience magical. I left with a feeling of hope and excitement for local opera.

The bus stop scenario was one young man, on his way to the opera, explaining the plot to another young man. The dialogue was light-hearted and up to date. It explained the convoluted love interests of the story in a tone full of banter and wit.

On top of that, the two guys were good actors which gave their sketches a flowing and natural feel. Each time the lights came up on them the feeling in the house seemed to one of anticipation and delight.

What about the promised cookies from Kuki Squared? They were there--kind of.

I’m not sure if the Poway Center for the Performing Arts was trying to protect their own concession sells or if they just have a policy of being generally difficult but Kuki Squared wasn’t allowed to provide the cookies that Pacific Lyric Association had pre-purchased for everyone.

However, Kuki Squared made the best of it and actively handed out coupons for free cookies during intermission and after the show. I think I’m going to grab mine tomorrow.