Students at East Central University are performing their first full opera since 2010 with W.A. Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte (All Women Are Alike) on Thursday-Friday, Nov. 29-30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy I. Summers Theatre.
The opera is a comedy addressing the timeless topic of fidelity in romantic relationship.
The plot involves two sisters, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, who live in Naples, Italy, along with their chambermaid Despina and their lovers Ferrando and Guglielmo. Don Alfonso, an old philosopher who serves as mentor to men, sets out to prove to the men that all women are inherently unfaithful.
Swearing them to secrecy, Don Alfonso convinces the men to pretend that they are going off to war. He them pays Despina to help him succeed in his mission, asking her to help him bring two new suitors into the house. The new men – really Ferrando and Guglielmo in disguise – then court the sister of their original girlfriend.
At first the women remain staunch, stating that they would never betray their sweethearts, but eventually they soften and become attracted to their visitors. Just as they are about to marry their new loves, Ferrando and Guglielmo, burst in, apparently having returned from the war.
In the ECU production, the setting has been modified a bit. Despina is a waitress who runs a discotech owned by ex-military man Don Alfonso. The sisters and their fiances are regular customers at the bar.
Courtney Phillips, of Tishomingo, will play the part of Fioediligi (sister of Dorabella). Shelby Baker will play the part of Dorabella on Thursday while Teresa White will portray Dorabella on Friday. Malik Sharp, of Shawnee, will play Guglielmo; Chris Coulter, of Tishomingo, will be Ferrando; Jessica Drury, of Heavener will play Despina and Lane Taylor, who is the Byng High School choir director, will portray Don Alfonso.
Filling the role of the customers will be Charis Haves, of Wynnewood; Ivan Huerta, Lexington; Cameron Wilson, Lexington and Trystan Marshall.
Performing in the orchestra will be Chance Van Sandt, of Foyil; Brooklyn Rawls, Ardmore and Flora Knight, Wynnewood on the flute. Alisha Smith, of Lindsay, will play the oboe. Krysta Brown, of Prague, and Kelly Gage, Konawa, will be on the clarinet. Emma Williams. Glenpool, and Alex Langley, Durant, will play the horn. Blake Pringle, Moore, and Lance Reisetter, Wynnewood, will be on the trumpet. Jacob Moses, of Ada, will play the trombone. Trey Hobbs, of El Dorado, New Mexico, will be in the double bass and Ethan Linfoot, Sapulpa, will play the timpani.
Adults are $15. Seniors and children under 12 are $10. ECU students, faculty and staff are free with identification.
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