Susannah Left Me Hanging, Waiting for a Happy Ending at Boston University Theater

This past weekend I went to Boston to see the Opera Susannah at the Boston University Theatre. The modern musical drama was two acts with several set changes in between. The music and libretto was written by Carlisle Floyd, who was born in 1926 and is one of the foremost composers of opera in the United States.

The program introduced the story by saying 'its source is from the Apocryphal book of Daniel. Two elders come upon a virtuous young wife in her garden bathing, and due to their own lust, conspired to sleep with her. When she refused, they lied and publicly accused her of promiscuity; a crime punishable by death. At the trial, their lies were caught, and they were the ones put to death.' (Susannah program)

Floyd has re-written this story to accentuate the mob mentality and so the opera opened with Susannah Polk being played by Ashley Logan on Saturday night. The Boston University Chamber Orchestra conducted by William Lumpkin included violins, flutes, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, as well as a harp.

The play opened in the mountains of Tennessee in a churchyard and this is where we see the church goers enjoying a summer picnic. Soon, we find that neighbors are talking about one particular girl, Susannah who they say is loose and trouble.

The women shun her and she is made to feel like a whore. The next scene shows her at home presumably with her husband. He goes off hunting, and she ends up in a pond in her back yard, bathing when two men stroll by and see her in all her nakedness. They spread rumors that she is a harlot and it just takes off from there. The towns people want to baptize her, and the preacher prays over her.

The next scene showed the preacher showing up at her house drunk, telling her he needs her, and then he stays the whole night while her husband is still away hunting. The next day her husband comes home, and she tells him what happened and he goes and shoots the preacher.

Appropriate at least in my opinion, but that was how the opera ended.

Nothing was resolved, and in fact, the abrupt ending left the audience craving for a happy ending.

But as in real life, not everything ends happily.

I love musicals and this was one of my first experiences with opera. If this had been my first time, I don't think I would ever go back. The music was done well, but I struggled with trying to blend it with the singing. At times the actors seemed to be screeching and the orchestra sound dominated the stage.

The second set was a little better, but perhaps because we were in the 3^rd row behind the bass section, the music seemed to be competing against the singers. This opera ran from April 15th - 18th.

Source:

Program, Susannah, Boston University College of Fine Arts