Alyssa Jackson, who plays the role of Eliza, clings to P.T. Mahoney, the prophet during rehearsal for the opera "Dark Sisters." [Photo by Eriech Tapia]
It is easy to love, to hear the music in the heart and soul that comes from loving another. Understanding that this love is a gift from God makes the music even more beautiful — at least that is how the women feel in the opera “Dark Sisters” presented at Oklahoma City University in the Kirkpatrick Theatre.
"Dark Sisters" is a modern opera that premiered in 2011. It tells the story of a cult where the prophet has married five women of varying ages. The head of the community and his family, he believes that women should "keep sweet" and embrace his choices as their own from a very young age.
Lucinda is his own daughter, a sheltered and naive child of 15, and she is expected to marry a man in the sect who is 58 years old. "Keeping sweet" is a matter of life and death, he says and should Lucinda's mother discover his plans, she may not keep so sweet. Alerted to potential child abuse, authorities have raided the compound and removed every child they found. All of the mothers stay, grieving for their children, but they "keep sweet" in misguided loyalty.
Presenting this story as an opera is less of a challenge than one might think. The music is beautiful but somewhat atonal and a voice will rise in gorgeous lilt and then turn momentarily strident. Suddenly the powerful orchestra takes the discordance to heart and each instrument wails. Grief wafts over the audience as these women have become shells, wailing for their children and accepting their lot in life, until Lucinda's mother, Eliza, begins to resist. Another sister-wife is Ruth, who, in suffering, is no longer quite right. She shares a letter she found explaining the Prophet's plan for Lucinda.
The event has become newsworthy and the prophet is forced to allow his wives to be interviewed by a reporter. They have been coached, but Ruth reveals her instability and Eliza reveals the truth. Eliza abandons the cult, joining the real world and leaving sisters to mourn her spiritual loss.
While every cast member is brilliant, Alyssa Jackson as Eliza and Brennan Martinez as Ruth are indisputably excellent.
The music is by the talented and acclaimed composer Nico Muhly, with the libretto by Stephen Karam. The power of sound is almost overwhelming and the cast does justice to it. The conductor is Matthew Mailman and his talent is supreme.
David Herendeen directs “Dark Sisters” with great sensitivity and skill. The two casts and the orchestra members are all students and students also created the set and costumes.
The set is quite marvelous, evoking a dark and murky beauty from the beginning. The costumes are sweet and appropriate — overall old-fashioned and matronly.
Source: http:/ewsok.com/beautiful-and-chilling-dark-sisters-also-haunts/article/5539040
