“Matchbox Magic Flute” Mesmerizes with Intimacy & Whimsy—at Berkeley Rep
Mary Zimmerman Celebrates Mozart in Earthy, Erotic Fantasy
by Barry David Horwitz
Extraordinary designer/director Mary Zimmerman triumphs at Berkeley Rep with her ethereal, funny Magic Flute, taking us to brave, new worlds. Her tongue-in-cheek version of Mozart’s comic opera comments on itself—with a wink and a smile.
In one memorable scene, magnificent blue stage waves, animated by hand, move back and forth across the stage. And the self-consciously “noble” prince and his princess sail blithely through in a painted boat. Absolutely charming.
In “Matchbox,” Zimmerman’s paints with brilliant colors, vividly bringing the costumes, critters, and cartoon forest to life. We enter a kaleidoscope of 18th Century paintings that continually animate and surprise. Her intimate opera speaks to all our senses.
Everywhere we look, a surprise. Left and right, singers pop up from decorated stage boxes to sing to us directly. Above, up top, Mozart’s famous profile in silhouette and shell-shaped footlights below. Flowered, brocaded, flowing 18th Century-style costumes delight with modern twists.
Vertical, triangular columns rotate to form cloudy skies, brocaded walls, and forest hideaways. The talented cast doubles as stagehands to roll trees onto the set, while sharing their own amazement.
And the joke—It’s the handsome, super-tall Prince Tamino—played expressively and comically by enchanting Billy Rude, fully committed to his role. Rude plays nobility, sincerity, grandeur, naivete, innocence, and faint-hearted heroism with comic joy and innocent bliss. Occasionally, he turns his head and lets us know all that nobility is too much to bear.
Rude’s beautiful tenor voice, his comic acting, and his golden flowered robe mark him as a naïve Germanic prince. He manages to be cowardly, brave, and silly in quick succession. A prince of an actor!
This is a new musical hall Mozart. Mozart in your pocket, elbowing us, and letting us know it’s all in FUN.
The Prince’s beloved Pamina (soaring soprano Marlene Fernandez) urges him on. Delightful Fernandez must nurture her faulty Prince, too. It takes a woman, after all.
The three Ladies, straight out of a Reubens painting add magical comedy as they lust after the Prince’s charms and distribute magical gifts. As the supernatural, balletic Spirit of Nature, Reese Parish adds delicate charm.
The bird/man Papageno (irrepressible Shawn Pfaiutscho) comically searches through fairy tale forests, a part of Nature, himself. Papageno discovers his beloved, the bird-like Papagena (witty Lauren Molina) and they raise a feathered brood. Singers do double-duty—very democratic. They help each other out.
On the comic villainy side, the prize goes to divine Emily Rohn for her sensational, super-sensitive Queen of the Night, in superior voice. Her black and red costume, with prominent crescent moons on her head and bosom, rocket her powerful message. We take as much joy in Rohn’s queenly desire for vengeance as we do in fairy tale witches.
As Queen she joins the magnificent bass of Fernando Watts, a commanding Sun King Sarastro—unforgettable. Russell Mernagh, Sorastro’s quirky henchman, nimbly expresses evil vengeance.
All the roles combine to take us on a trip of thanks to a Germanic fable—that pits naïve good versus silly evil. Guess who wins—with a magnificent cast—and wide praise of Nature, Love, and Beauty!
“Matchbox Magic Flute” –adapted & directed by Mary Zimmerman, based on Mozart’s opera, scenic design by Todd Rosenthal, costumes by Ana Kumanic, lighting by T.J. Gerckens, sound by Andre Pluess, music adapted by Amanda Dehnert & Andre Pluess, music directed by Amanda Dehnert.
–at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Info: berkeleyrep.org – to December 8, 2024.
Cast: Reese Parish | The Spirit, Billy Rude | Tamino, Lauren Molina | First Lady, Papagena, Monica West | Second Lady (through Nov 10), Ann Delaney | Second Lady (as of Nov 12),
Tina Muñoz-Pandya | Third Lady, Shawn Pfautsch | Papageno, Emily Rohm | Queen of the Night, Russell Mernagh | Monostatos, Armored Guard, Marlene Fernandez | Pamina, Fernando Watts | Sarastro, Armored Guard.
Banner photo: Monica West, Tina Muñoz-Pandya, Lauren Molina, & Billy Rude. Photos: Alessandra Mello