Albert Herring
KENTUCKY OPERA (1985)
ALBERT HERRING by Benjamin Britten, based on the novella by Guy de Maupassant
Conductor: Robert Bernhardt
Cast: M. Ballam, C. Bober, D. Everette, C. Nall, D. Perry, M. Ann Oakes, N. Karousitis, S. Shuster, M. Taylor
Production: J. Beecroft (scenery/lighting), B. Shamash (clothes)
“The company could not possibly have designed a more exciting tribute for the inauguration of the Moritz Bomhard Theater. Make no mistake. This Albert Herring is triumphant musical theater. Meticulously produced, beautifully designed, cunningly staged, knowingly conducted and handsomely sung, it is an entertaining and exhilarating show, a wonderfully humane work that probes into dark corners of the human heart. A slight tale, but Britten handles it with such insight and compassion that it evokes both laughter and sympathy. At least, it does in this production, directed by Nicholas Muni, who keeps the performance toeing a fine line between broad farce and delicate comedy. And his cast turns in a marvel of precise ensemble playing, creating individual characters that are as real as life.”
– William Mootz, Louisville Courier-Journal (January, 1985)
“Putting it as simply as possible, this enchanting production offered the opening night audience an evening of musical theater that would be hard to equal. Director Nicholas Muni, who gave us the unforgettable The Turn of the Screw last season, again produced a staging of impeccable taste, ideally suited to the confines of the Bomhard stage. It was a triumph of ensemble playing and company interaction. The singers not only showed obvious enjoyment in bringing their characters to life, they did so without descending to campiness or exaggeration.”
– Joseph Miller, The Louisville Skyline (January, 1985)
“I am happy to salute stage director Nicholas Muni for his non-intrusive handling of the cast. He worked prodigies and the results are a delight. The cast is a large one and yet the sense of ensemble is profound. Singers listen to one another…call it what you will, this comedy is a joy.”
– F.W. Woolsey, The Louisville Times (January, 1985)