Super Humans by Ulrica PAGE FOUR

Ulrica in the Park -- Sunday September 7th, 2003

Once again thousands of people poured into Golden Gate Park’s Sharon Meadow to attend and picnic at SFO’s freebie, Opera in the Park, among them, of course, your Spearhead correspondent, Ulrica.

Always willing to embarrass themselves in front of thousands of people, several Supers showed up in costume to help hand out season schedules and direct folks to the Opera booth where they were having a 2-for-1 special on tickets. Charlie Lichtman (left) wore his actual costume from the old production of Norma (purchased at the Costume Shop sale a few years back) and looked quite the Druid, while many thought that Andrew Korniej (right), unfortunately, looked more like a jigging Irish colleen from Riverdance than the Renaissance Man he aspired to be.

Ophelia wannabe Anna Stultz (right) looked suitably ethereal in flowing green chiffon and Twisted Sister Laurel Winzler (left) worked the crowd wearing an authentic embroidered Hungarian folk costume. Nice to see Medieval historian/Jeopardy contestant Dan Melia as Wozzeck and swashbuckling Walt Thorpe as a pirate; presumably from Penzance.

When the crowd wasn’t admiring the Supers’ costumes they seemed to be enjoying the concert. Adorable Magic Flute-ists Charles Castronova and Ana Maria Martinez were a gigantic hit with their delightful "Esultate pur la barbara” from L’Elisir D’Amore, followed by Suzanne Ramo's stunning, note-perfect Queen of the Night aria. Also from the Zauberflöte cast, Twyla Robinson was the afternoon’s most adventurous performer with an exciting aria and caballeta from the early Verdi rarity I Due Foscari. There was an audible gasp of admiration when the extremely handsome baritone Nathan Gunn took the stage to sing “Largo al factotum” and the instant he finished singing there was a stampede of people heading towards the Opera booth to snag Twofers for his Barber.

The afternoon’s funniest moment was Frederica von Stade and Zheng Cao doing the “Habanera” à deux: one in French, the other in Mandarin; one flashing her fan, the other donning a Chinese straw hat. "Flicka" also dedicated a “love song” to the San Francisco Opera Company (she specified the Orchestra and Chorus but we’re sure her failure to mention the Supernumeraries was just a Senior Moment. Certainly her backstage schmoozing with Charlie Lichtman would suggest nothing but solidarity with the Super Corps) in the form of a luscious, creamy rendition of her trademark “Voi che sapete.” Surprisingly this was beloved Flicka’s Opera in the Park debut! Brava!!

Other Supers spied in the audience included Spearhead Editor Emeritus Tom Carlisle (at far right, with Lichtman and Thorpe) with the latest volume of his magnificent scrapbooks (covering Summer 2002. Look for it at the next Bake Sale), David Ransom, Lucas Rebston and Tiburon goldsmith Keith Bartel. Spotted in the senior & handicapped seating area was Screen Star Sharon Stone with (we thought ex-) husband, Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein.

As usual the afternoon ended with several Traviata “Libiamos” successively led by Mr. Castronovo with Ms. Martinez and tenor Antonio Nagore with glam returning diva Catherine Nagelstad. After libiaming much too much, and overcome by her whiff of backstage testosterone, Ulrica grabbed her picnic hamper and staggered home, humming that catchy Overture to Benvenuto Cellini all the way.

Addios to Terry and Todd

We have happy and sad feelings about departing SFO Company members Todd Calvin and Terry Ganley.

Former Super Captain Todd (pictured at right) is heading back to where he left his heart, Southern California, for a new career in the Entertainment Capital, Los Angeles. Good luck, Todd and it was really great working with you for the two seasons. We all remember Todd’s Trial by Fire, the 2001 Verdi Festival Aida.

He’s hoping to be able to join us for Oliver’s Farewell Party on September 22nd and we’re hoping he’ll be back to visit often. Todd is a man of many talents: Apart from the daunting task of being Super Captain he has been in charge of all scheduling at the Opera, passed the California Bar and produced an Emmy-nominated film, Off Season, for Showtime last year. Best wishes and every success in SoCal, Todd!

And flying East this very week is Stage Manager extraordinaire Terry Ganley, seen here (below, right) with Sandy Bernhardt and a couple of Heyducks. Terry has landed a fabulous SM (that’s Stage Manager, my dears) job at the Metropolitan Opera. We heartily congratulate her on the new position but we’ll miss the frizzy hair, the crisp professional voice over the PR, the dry humor and inevitable backstage “Quiet PLEASE!” on those rare occasions when the Super Corps would get out of control. We also know that Terry’s extreme diligence with onstage safety will mean no more Met Supers falling into the Orchestra Pit.

Warm and Fuzzy

A magical highlight of SFO’s Magic Flute is the scene where woodland creatures come out of the woods and are transfixed by Tamino’s playing. Said creatures are great, albeit unseen, roles for Supers. Ulrica worries that the Supers will miss playing these roles once the performances are over. So she suggests that they read this article from the San Francisco Bay Guardian. They might also want to check out the ultimate unseen animal role and rent this movie. But she suggests that if you are wearing this you best avoid showing up here.

Culture Vulture Ulrica couldn’t help but notice that Mike Harvey’s dragon costume in the above mentioned opera appears in The National Gallery of London’s treasure "St. George and the Dragon," circa 1470, by Paolo Uccello. We know the production is showing its age but can it really be that dated?

Until the next column, Ulrica will be getting her Easter Bunny costume out of mothballs and joining you all onstage.

<-- Page 3     MORE           Page 5 -->