The Shining @ the Minnesota Opera

 
Once again I had the pleasure of seeing another Opera production. This time it was of The Shining. Yes, you are right, based off of the book by Stephen King and the movie. This followed more of the book rather than the movie.

It worked out this time to take my husband as my date which is always lovely. He was very interested in seeing how this would translate on stage as an opera as The Shining was one of his favorite books as a young adult.

Opera is not for everyone and when you see one it's easier almost to take when it's in another language and a story that you are not as familiar with. It took a bit for me to get used to them singing the words to a story I know really well. But after a bit, I got into it and really enjoyed the way the expressed the emotion of the story. 
 
The sets were amazing. The atmosphere they created spooked you out. It had a magical yet haunting feeling about it.
The craziness inside the father's head was well depicted in the cast of colorful characters; the bartender, the former caretaker, and all of the past guests who died there. I'd say the woman in the bathroom was the one that creeped me out the most!

It was a really fun experience. The actors were magnificent and the little boy who played Danny really held his own against pros like Kelly Kaduce and Brian Mulligan (Wendy and Jack). If it every comes around again, check it out. The Shining at the Ordway.


Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child