Calling opera fans

Hey, opera fans. I've got a little secret I bet you didn't know: You can get your fix for live opera in Cape Girardeau, sort of.

I'm pretty sure you don't know about this, because if you did you'd probably have checked it out last weekend. But I know you didn't, because the few who did have told me so.

Last Saturday the Town Plaza Cinema did something I think might be a first in Cape Girardeau -- a live broadcast of the New York Metropolitan Opera. The opera was "Romeo et Juliette."

The screenings are part of a deal with National CineMedia through 2010 -- the same deal that brought a Garth Brooks concert in November and a Celine Dion concert Monday to the Town Plaza, part of the Kerasotes theater chain.

In a conversation Monday, Kerasotes director of marketing Clair Malo said the new programming is a first-time thing for the chain. And apparently in larger markets, the crowds have already responded.

"These events, thus far, have been extremely well attended," Malo said.

That's not really the case in Cape Girardeau, as Town Plaza management said attendance has been sparse. Their theory is that word just hasn't gotten out yet.

I think they're probably right.

There is a cadre of opera lovers here in Cape Girardeau. And, of course, they have a real problem getting their operatic fix.

Where is the nearest opera, anyway?

Without driving hours to a big metropolitan center, these local opera fans are forced to listen to Barb Herbert's opera programs on KRCU, or maybe watch the occasional telecast. Or they can spend the big bucks for travel and tickets to see it live somewhere far, far away.

Herbert told me she hadn't even heard about the local opera performances until one of her listeners e-mailed her about it. She'd even gotten tickets to see one of the shows at the St. Louis Art Museum.

If these fans know about these local opera broadcasts, they might just fill some of those empty seats.

So here's your notice, opera fans. You don't have to wait long for the next show -- it's Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" on New Year's Day.

But be wary, opera fans, because tickets for adults are $20. But as Malo said, that's a lot cheaper than going to the actual opera, and on the big screen you get an experience that's pretty close.