A very public ‘notary’ makes his MAC debut‘Elixir’ full of rue, but not for this opera buffBy Jayne Spencer | |
 Photos by Paul Martens Being in the cast of an IU Opera Theater production was an elixir for IU alumnus Bill Little (top photo far right) who loves opera and made his MAC debut as the “notary” Sept. 30. Pictured with him (left to right) are Weston Hurt (“Belc ore”); Chris Burchett (“Dr. Dulcamara”); Sheldon Hughes (“Nemorino”); and Kristine Biller (“Adina”). In the Green Room afterward (bottom photo), Little chats with Gwyn Richards, interim dean of the IU School of Music.
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“Buffoonery is delicately balanced
with rue and romance with morality,” wrote Bloomington Herald-Times
music critic Peter Jacobi in describing the operatic magic awaiting
audiences who would attend The Elixir of Love at the Indiana
University Musical Arts Center in Bloomington. But imagine catching the action of Gaetano Donizetti’s lilting comedy from the wings of the MAC as you waited, powdered and costumed, for the stage cue that would bring you front and center. That’s what happened for IU alumnus Bill Little of Hartford, Ky., who stepped onto the stage of the IU Opera Theater production Sept. 30 in the period piece get-up of “the notary.” It was an opera buff’s dream, and in Little’s case, perhaps a dream defe rred. As an English and education major in the mid-1960s on the Bloomington campus, Little lived near Ernie Pyle Hall in what was then a co-educational residence hall. He was encouraged to get involved in opera productions by a fellow resident, was tempted, but never got around to it. Then last month, when he received his weekly electronic issue of IU News and read about an opportunity to be a part of an IU opera production, his first response was: “I must take a shot.” He pointed his mouse toward an on-line auction, and the rest is Donizetti history. Little was the successful bidder for an experiential package offered by electronic auction in a partnership between the IU Alumni Association and Ultimatebid.com. Little and his wife, Brenda, arrived in Bloomington Sept. 28 and spent time with Mark Clark, a professor of opera production, who served as their host. A tour of the MAC and a stage rehearsal followed. On the night of the performance, Mary Grusak, head of costumes and make-up, took over to be sure the notary’s costume fit and his make-up was impeccable. Was he nervous about his debut? Not a bit, he said. The cast was warm and friendly and while waiting to make his stage entrance for the non-speaking, non-singing role, he got to play “gofer” in the wings from time to time, followed by the fun at the after -performance Green Room reception. Recently retired, the couple has taken courses in opera history, returns to Bloomington each summer for Mini University and has toured the country visiting some of the finest opera houses, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Central City (Colo.) Opera. But nothing, they both agreed, compares to an opera experience in Bloomington. Future auction packages include IU football experiences, an alumni tour to London and an IU Art Museum trip to the Art Institute in Chicago, said Joan Hall, marketing director for the IU Alumni Association. The auctions are an opportunity, she said, to s trengthen the relationship between the university and alumni and a way to generate alumni awareness of on-campus happenings. A major portion of the winning bids will be donated to the IU Alumni Association and the respective IU departments sponsoring the experiences. Also, up on the block soon will be experiences with the IUB Ballet Theater’s production of Peter Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in early December and two more IUB operas. Want to bid? Go to the IU Alumni Association Web site: http://www.alumni.indiana.edu |
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Publication date: October 13, 2000
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