Small-scale 'Boheme' shows some range
By Richard Covello
Special to the Tribune

The orchestra was replaced by a string quartet plus piano, the choral passages were abridged and undertaken by nine women singers, the stage was more like a lecture platform, yet the pathos and charm of Puccini's "La Boheme" came across in Opera Theatre North's performance. The production values of the group, formerly known as Opera Theatre Highland Park, might have been limited, but not some of the vocal talents presented.

The ballroom of the Highland Park Community Center was set up last Sunday afternoon with large round tables at which the capacity audience sat. If this sounds like a cabaret, that's just what company manager Marla Forbes and stage director Andrew Eggert intended.

It worked fine for Act II, which takes place at the Café Momus in Puccini's evocation of 19th Century Paris. Musetta, the opera's fille de joie, worked the room like a cabaret diva, singing her Waltz Song to the audience at their tables. The desolate Act III locale was played on the stage apron with curtain closed, while the Acts I and IV attic was represented by scattered canvases,supposed to be creations of the character Marcello.

The singers made the show. Francesco Milioto conducted them and the string quartet from the piano. Though the quartet's sound was sometimes a bit trying, Milioto's fine musicianship was apparent, given the circumstances. Russian-born Veronica Mitina has a bright, unforced soprano, almost too bright for Mimi, since there was not enough contrast between her and Rebecca Davis as the brassy-voiced Musetta. Tenor Lawrence Johnson was somewhat unsteady in Act I, but on the whole a fine Rodolfo. Two outstanding baritones were Michael Mayes and Ken Mattice as, respectively, Marcello and Schaunard. Milioto chose an unusually slow tempo for Colline's coat aria, which D. Todd von Felker sang rather throatily. Veteran and versatile singer Andrew Schultze was delightful in the traditionally paired roles of Benoit and Alcindoro.

The language was Italian with no subtitles but, before each act, one of the principals spoke a brief and charming introduction in English.

Opera Theatre North repeats "Boheme" at 1991 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and at 8 p.m. Saturday. For tickets, call 847-433-6430.