‘Star Trek’ version of opera makes Angeles laugh
By Capt. Jeremy Kranz
LOS ANGELES — Janice Willcocks laughed so hard that she had tears.
I knew how she felt. The USS Angeles founder and I were watching the “Star Trek” version of Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio.” It was the funniest opera I have ever seen.
Janice and I saw it Feb. 8 during a USS Angeles away mission to Occidental College in Los Angeles, which served as the launching pad for this interstellar voyage. It’s not that unusual for an opera. They’re routinely re-themed to take place in different times and places. I once saw a video of “La Boheme,” which took place in space.
The Pacific Opera Project’s production at Occidental College was re-themed for the original “Star Trek” series and presented mostly in English, even though Mozart’s original opera is in German.
Before the show began, a recording of “Star Trek” music was played outside. Additionally, once we sat down, tribbles would often move from one side of the stage to the other, cooing as they moved.
As the music began, we saw the orchestra in red shirts.
On stage, the baritone vocalist was a Klingon, played by Andrew Potter. He was wonderful and had a strong presence. Instead of the Spanish nobleman Belmonte, as in the original opera, we have Captain James T. Belmonte, played by Brian Cheney. The transformation was similar for the other characters.
Here is how the scene was initially set, according to the program: “The feared Klingon leader, Chancellor Selim, had captured three members of the Starfleet crew …” With this show, we got new experiences with Kirk, Spock and Uhura. This production even added a scene where the captain fights the Gorn.
In one scene, the chancellor needs an engineer to fix his ship, so Belmonte disguises himself as an engineer and puts on a heavy Scottish accent.
Not only were the in-jokes and references well executed, but the show is played in a tongue-in-cheek tone.
These are professional performers, and they didn’t skimp on quality even though they knew this was a comic opera. Even with all the humor, the singing was top-notch.
Several of the funniest moments came when Cheney as Capt. Belmonte broke the fourth wall, looked at the audience and made us laugh.
Everyone left happy. I’ll never be able to watch any other version of this opera without laughing, as it will remind me of this performance. I strongly recommend you view the original or the recent version of this opera.
You can do that by searching YouTube for “Pacific Opera Project Abduction From the Seraglio.” By the way, this would make a great watch party.
Los Angeles has more than one opera company. Los Angeles Opera performs downtown at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. But even though the company takes liberties with its operas, it’s not as bold as the Pacific Opera Project.
Capt. Jeremy Kranz is first officer of the USS Angeles. The Region 4 website welcomes stories about activities from all of the region‘ ‘s chapters. Please email stories and photos, which are at least 1,200 pixels wide, to Dave Mason, the region’s chief of communications, at davemason1701@gmail.com.
The cast is on stage for its curtain calls after the “Star Trek” version of Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio.” USS Angeles members saw the opera Feb. 8 at Occidental College in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jeremy Kranz / Region 4 / USS Angeles)
Jeremy Kranz and Janice Willcocks go to Occidental College to see a “Star Trek” version of Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio.” (Photo courtesy Jeremy Kranz)
Audience members stand in front of the stage during intermission for a “Star Trek” costume contest. A woman who came as Guinan (not pictured) won. (Photo by Jeremy Kranz / Region 4 / USS Angeles).