Postcards From Morocco Tickets

Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verse," Postcard from Morocco is a one act opera composed by Dominick Argento. With a non-conventional story line and a singular setting in a train station, Postcard from Morocco is perhaps one of the most fascinating operas that have been penned. Dominick Argento, famous for a variety of critically acclaimed operas that include "The Aspern Papers," "Miss Havisham's Fire," and, "The Masque of Angels," Dominick Argento is known to be a class apart from other composers. Postcard from Morocco stands as a testimony to Argento's skill and prowess at breathing life into even the most non-descript and baffling of plots.

The opera is set in 1914, and presents a small group of people waiting on a train platform. They have no names. They have no personalities. All that identifies them are the props they hold on to. They all have luggage that they want to keep secret and as they try to find out what the other is hiding, they in turn reveal secrets that shock and amuse the audience. What appears to be a disjointed plot comes together beautifully with Argento's maser compositions and John Donahue's operatic text and stage direction. 14^th of October 1971 marked the debut of Postcard from Morocco at the Cedar Village Theatre. From Minnesota, Postcard from Morocco went into production in New York, and then, internationally.

The opera constructs a three tiered imaginarium on stage; a puppet show being played out, the actual platform on which the seven people wait and a removed stage accessible to these actors during their wait. It opens with the scene where  strangers try to familiarize themselves with each other and with the audience. The question 'What do you do?' is asked, and it remains as a dormant theme throughout the opera. The characters are shown as holding certain props; there is a man with a cornet case, a man with old luggage, a lady with a hat box, a man with a paint box, a man with a shoe sample kit, and a lady with a hand mirror.

As the content of each luggage is unveiled, we see a new dimension being added to the characters. It's almost as if Argento wants the audience to witness the evolution of his characters; the audience is allowed to engage with and become part of the development of his characters

Taking inspiration from 'A Child's Garden of Verse,' Postcard from Morocco features random settings, unnamed characters, a puppet show, and a plot that seems errant in the beginning. Including a diverse score, Argento allows each character to take center stage with a solo performance and gives them the chance to speak their minds. He creates a fantasy on stage that enables the audience to figure out the seemingly mindless conversations that the characters hold on stage.

While the opera has an overall dramatic theme, the characters provide comic relief in various places that allows for the audience to enjoy the show instead of being bogged down by intense drama. The opera sheds light on the social fabric and the sensitive nature of our relationships and our life. The eloquence with which the eclectic plot is handled is testament to the genius at work behind the opera. A more than simple storyline, one act, limited cast and no drastic variations allow for the ultimate opera experience which  is short, extraordinarily imaginative, widely engaging and pleasing to the ears.

Seasoned opera goers are sure to love the simplicity of Postcard from Morocco. For those who appreciate opera will find it light and fun. It is sure to make an opera enthusiast out of first timers. In any case, this is one must-see show for all. To become part of a night of fantasy and imagination overdrive, purchase Postcard from Morocco tickets today.