Fiddles, fairies & feuds: Valley Light Opera presents 'The Emerald Isle'

By MELISSA GARBER Bulletin Contributing Writer

Published on March 07, 2008

In Sir Arthur Sullivan's last operetta there are lovers torn apart by feuding countries, a fiddle-playing blind man (who may just be lying), and a fairy who holds men in her cave for hundreds of years - or not.

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, "The Emerald Isle" travels stateside for a concert performance - no sets, no costumes - Saturday night by the Valley Light Opera.

Valley Light Opera was born 33 years ago in the living room of Bill and Sally Venman's Amherst home. The idea for the company first came to the Venmans when Bill was the music director for Smith College's 1974 production of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Mikado," and then performed in the orchestra for Mt. Holyoke's "Princess Ida" the following year. After realizing there was a following for the shows, Bill and Sally decided to start their own G&S company.

The couple had been fans of G&S since they were kids. "This is the kind of thing high schools did," Sally said, "the music is accessible and the stories, the book, are virtually timeless."

"Sullivan alone is a fairly mediocre composer and [William S.] Gilbert was a successful writer with no lasting value," Bill said. "But the two of them together produced operas that are still very popular across the country."

The VLO focuses on Gilbert & Sullivan's 14 light operas in addition to several other Victorian-era operettas like "The Chieftain," "The Rose of Persia," and Saturday night's "The Emerald Isle."

"Emerald" was Sullivan's last work before his death. Gilbert & Sullivan no longer worked together, so the comic opera was written by Basil Hood, and composed by Sullivan until his death. Edward German finished the music.

For three years Bill has been transcribing orchestra and singing parts in preparation for doing the show. Because it is a rare operetta, none of the parts were readily available.

"It's been a real adventure," Bill said. "But this is the last of the Sullivan operas and the music is wonderful; it's on the cusp of being a light opera and musical."

"The Emerald Isle" tells the tale of Irish rebels and the British military, complete with make-believe fairies and treason. It's funny and fantastical, yet even today, it's relevant to the political situation in Ireland. The story begins with the return from Oxford to Ireland of Terrance O'Brian, an Irishman of royal descent, sung by Ted Blaisdell. Upon his arrival, O'Brian learns that the people of his village have been forced by the Lord Lieutenant (Barry Holstein) to speak and behave like the English. O'Brian vows to fight against the Anglicizing of his people, even as he is secretly engaged to the Lieutenants' daughter, Rosie Pippin (Libby Maxey).

Professor Bunn (Joe Donohue) is hired to teach English elocution, but also agrees to teach the villagers how to be more Irish. In the meantime, Pat Murphy (Matt Roehrig), the "blind fiddler," is in love with Molly O'Grady (Louise Krieger).

The Lord Lieutenant and his British troops decide to seek out the Clan-na-Gael, the villagers' secret rebel society, in the caves of Carrig-Cleena. What they find is the fairy Cleena herself, who is actually Rosie projecting an image of Molly. Confused yet?

"The Emerald Isle" ends with the British noblemen deciding they are all part American, and therefore friends with the Irish.

The cast is all volunteer, and some - like Lucy Robinson, Kurtiss Gordon and John Foster of Amherst and Krieger of Sunderland - have been involved with the VLO for 20-plus years. Gordon has been a member since 1976, the VLO's second year of production.

Heather Davies of Northampton is a new addition to the VLO. She has only been a member since 2005. Davies will play the role of Susan, Rosie's maid, in the show.

In 1991 Bill and Sally retired from the VLO after producing every G&S show at least once, but they came back this year to produce "The Emerald Isle." Bill will also be the Music Director for the show and Sally will sing in the chorus.

"It's like Mount Everest," Bill said. "It was there."

The Venman's expect the audience will be a national one, with people traveling from New York, Pennsylvania and even as far as Florida for the show.

"The G&S nuts will come from Florida for one show," Sally said. "There is a following."

The VLO presents a concert performance of "The Emerald Isle" Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Amherst Regional High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10; $5 students under 18, and will be available at the door.