Fortune Teller Tickets

Details of Fortune Teller and the Ticket Luck value

Fortune Teller
The Fortune Teller is a late 19th century operetta comprised of three acts written by Victor Herbert, with a libretto by Harry B. Smith. After a brief trial in Toronto, it premiered on Broadway on September 26, 1898 at Wallack's Theatre and ran for 40 performances. It made a come back on November 4, 1929 at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre where it ran for 16 performances. The Fortune Teller was written by Herbert as his sixth operetta for prima donna Alice Nielsen and her newly formed Alice Nielsen Opera Company. Nielsen had gained considerable recognition for her role in The Serenade and was given three roles in The Fortune Teller.

The Plot
The plot of the operetta is set in Hungary and revolves around a young heiress Irma from Budapest, who is studying for the ballet. Irma is in love with a young soldier but she is being forced to marry the somewhat silly Count Barezowski. The plot becomes interesting when a gypsy fortune teller named Musette appears on the scene.

The Fortune Teller reveals a world of curiosities when seven unusual characters are invited to the estate of a late millionaire industrialist and informed theyve been included in his will. However, they soon learn that their inheritances will not be determined by a will but by the readings of this mysterious fortune teller. As the seven strangers are delivered their due, their twisted tales are brought to life in an intricately woven plot telling an eerily comic story about fate and fortune. The plot further thickens when the fortune teller is mistaken for Irma causing many complications. Famous songs from the act include the Gypsy Love Song, and Romany Life.

Actors, actresses and critique
Victor Herberts ''The Fortune Teller'' has been described by critics as sweet, cute, exuberant, naive and tuneful. On some occasions, however, the singers have been criticized for straining their voices with a marked tendency to overact, in the grand Light Opera of Manhattan tradition. The dual role of Irma in the piece is played by actress and singer Linda Suda. Sudas early appearances began rigidly, with her acting nervous and her singing somewhat forced. However, having gained confidence on the stage Suda is able to bring a marked energy and charm to most of the scenes. She also manages the dual roles very skillfully making it clear to the audience which character she is playing in any particular scene.

Gary Ridley plays the role of Count Berezowski, with his singing described as suave with a good sense of proportion, in terms of his volume and the size of the theater. The role of Sandor is played by Stephan Kirchgraber, who sings with a smooth tone and clear lyrics. Other supporting actors include John Jude Healey, David Thomas Hampson, David Green and several other players.

Todd Ellison, the music director, presides over a small, versatile ensemble consisting of piano, electric organ and percussion instruments.

In 2008, a concert style performance, including soloists, orchestra and chorus, will be the first complete performance of this work in the last half century.

This work in being presented through HEREs Dream Music Puppetry Program, which provides development, commissions and full production support. The work has also been made possible with the pooling in of funds from The Jim Henson Foundation, The Village Halloween Parade, New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Peg Santvoord Foundation and through the help of studio space granted by Swing Space, a program of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, generously supported by The September 11th Fund.