The Rake's Progress
November 12, 17, 19, and 21, 2009, at 8 pm
Matinée November 14 at 3 pm
The Production
Through its music, its structure, and its story, The Rake's Progress is an intriguing fusion of time and place. It inhabits at once the 18th century of Mozart and Hogarth, the 19th century in which POV's production is set, the 20th century of its creators, and the 21st century of here and now – not to mention those places outside time – Heaven and Hell, Bedlam, and the peculiar alternate universes in which Baba is suspended in time and Tom roams in his madness.
Pacific Opera Victoria's original production of The Rake's Progress is being built in our own production shop. Director Glynis Leyshon has set the production in the Regency period of the very early 19th century. Nancy Bryant's costumes will impart elegance and the ambience of old London, along with touches of the exotic and decadent in the costumes for Baba and Mother Goose.
Allan Stichbury's simple set allows a colourful canvas for the theatrical shenanigans, fantastic baroque machine, giant fish, and other wonders of this opera. The set design uses a series of frames which impart a deep perspective to each scene, allowing a rich opportunity to play with time and place throughout the opera.
Below are photos of some of the models for the set designed by Allan Stichbury. Below on the far right are a selection of Nancy Bryant's costume sketches.
Photo of set model for Chapter 6: Inside Tom's Townhouse
Nick enters, wheeling in a fantastic baroque machine , and demonstrates how, through a hidden compartment, the machine can appear to turn a broken piece of china into a loaf of bread . . . or vice versa. Tom wakes, having dreamt of a wondrous machine that will turn stones into bread.
Designer, Allan Stichbury
Photo of set model for Chapter 6: Inside Tom's Townhouse
The ruinous venture has ended in Tom's bankruptcy, and all his possessions are to be auctioned off. Citizens arrive to inspect the loot and speculate as to Tom's whereabouts, while Sellem the auctioneer directs the bidding. All sorts of wonders are auctioned off, including a stuffed auk, a mounted pike, and eventually, Baba herself.
Designer, Allan Stichbury
Photo of set model for Chapter 7: Graveyard
A year and a day after their first meeting, Nick leads Tom to a graveyard, where he claims Tom's soul as payment for his services. He points out Tom's waiting grave and tells him to choose how he will die. Tom pleads for mercy, and Nick agrees to play a game of cards to decide Tom's fate.
Designer, Allan Stichbury
Maureen Woodall
