'Cosi fan Tutte' will be playing this weekend at River Campus

A romantic comedy can lighten the mood no matter what theater it's in -- a movie on the silver screen or a comedic opera on the River Campus stage.

"Don't let the word 'opera' scare you off," advises Christopher Goeke, Chairman of the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Music and director of the comic opera "Cosi fan Tutte."

The outlandish, farcical opera will run at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus.

Known as Mozart's comic masterpiece, "Cosi fan Tutte" is a story about two young couples who are deeply in love. A cynical older gentleman -- Don Alfonzo, played by Southeast faculty member Tim Schmidt -- challenges the two love-smitten men to do exactly what he tells them to do for the next 24 hours, and he will prove to them that their devoted, virtuous sweethearts will be unfaithful to them. Alfonzo convinces the men to don disguises so that they are wooing each other's sweethearts and persuades them to pretend to act so lovesick that they drink poison and pretend to kill themselves.

"Cosi fan Tutte" which means "This is how everyone does it," includes slapstick humor, according to Goeke.

"Like in all operas, the words are all sung instead of spoken, but this opera is performed all in English instead of Italian, so it is easy for even first time opera goers to understand," he said.

The opera, which was cast in September, is the culmination of the fall semester Opera Workshop class.

In this class, which is open to students from any major, students rehearse two to three times a week, build and paint sets, as well as handle many of the backstage responsibilities.

"Many of these students will go on to teach music, so this class gives them the knowledge of what it takes to put on a production," Goeke said. "It also gives them a healthy respect of what others do in the industry."

In addition to being the director, Goeke also served as set designer and supervisor of set construction. He is assisted by Leslie Jones, who handles music preparation, and Steve Hendricks, who serves as the orchestra conductor.

Nearly 50 students are involved in the production including cast, crew and orchestra members. The cast includes seniors Chris Woiwood and Megan Statler who both had roles in past productions of "Hansel and Gretel" and "Mikado." Other students returning to the stage after performances in "Mikado" include juniors Brittany Leimkuehler and Aaron Lerna, and sophomores Katlyn Robinson and Adam Bradt. This is the first performance for sophomore Katie Shae, who has a leading role.

"Faculty member Tim Schmidt brings a maturity to the production and is excellent as the villain who stirs the pot," Goeke said.

Tickets for "Cosi fan Tutte" are $15 for general admission and $3 for Southeast students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the River Campus box office, by phone at 651-2265, or online at www.rivercampusevents.com.

Pertinent address: 518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO