Review – “No Exit” at Chicago Opera Vanguard Limited Engagement

There are only two more performances of the unique gem of music theater. The venue is cool, and we parked on the street for $1.25. The musicians and singers and all of the other people involved are talented and sure of what they are doing. Don’t miss this “guerilla opera.”

NO EXIT is a contemporary chamber opera version of Jean Paul Sartre‘s politically charged play, written during the Nazi Occupation of Paris, and first performed in 1944.  Andy Vores composed the music, which would have been interesting by itself. It is directed by George Cederquist [Yale, Northwestern, Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre], and features soprano Susan Nelson as “Estelle,” mezzo-soprano Caitlin McKechney as “Inez,” tenor Herb Lenz as “Garcin” and baritone Peter Weathers as “Valet.”

The orchestra is conducted by Emanuele Andrizzi who remains out of view of the audience, but in control of the musicians and singers. The singers were able actors, which isn’t always true in opera. The orchestra has four instrumental voices that alternately clash, emphasize and amplify the singers’ voices. The musicians played with precision and suspense. The music stays on the interesting side of distressing, but what do you expect from an opera set in Hell? At 80 minutes, the piece was perfect. The claustrophic setting (a room in Hell,) the limited range of tones played by the orchestra, the fitful and pitiful words of the characters who sing in English, build up a tension to the point of no return. The dramatist stays true to Sartre’s original writing which always has some humor amidst the angst.

The themes of the play aren’t as shocking as they were when it made its debut, but the work holds together well in this operatic version. The price is a terrific value with the  opportunity to enjoy this much talent in one short stretch. Whether you like music, enjoy theater, appreciate operatic singing, or have never dreamed of going to an opera, this is theater with music for the rest of us. Treat yourself to this extraordinary show, it’s a good entertainment lead up to Halloween.

• General Admission is $25; $10 student/senior discount tickets available for the Friday and Sunday performances. Tickets are available online at www.chicagovanguard.org.
• Performances are:
  • 8 p.m. Saturday, October 17
  • 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18
• The opera will be performed at the Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre, 3656 N Halsted St. a totally wonderful venue.
• Running time is approximately 80 minutes with one intermission.

See all the details about the performance at Noexitchicago.com or here.

The  design team includes video projections by Cat Forster, sets and costumes by Izumi Inaba [University of Buffalo, Northwestern] and lighting by Samantha Szigeti [Northwestern].

The  Guerilla Opera ensemble in residence at The Boston Conservatory commissioned NO EXIT. It is the season kickoff for the Chicago Opera Vanguard, in partnership with Center on Halsted and Praxis Productions.

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