NOTE: This page refers to a 2006 production. Information about the upcoming Sept '08 production can be found here.
The story combines elements of pure farce with biting satire as Molière takes one of his many jabs at the medical profession. In this case, a lumbering brute of a woodcutter is able to pass himself off as a doctor with a bit of resourcefulness and a lot of absurd Latin. Along the way, he gets the beating he deserves for mistreating his wife and manages to help out a pair of young lovers who've been kept apart by a disapproving father. Gounod is best-known for his grand operatic settings of Faust and Romeo and Juliet, but this lighthearted score is full of catchy tunes and cleverly constructed ensembles that match the energy of the madcap plot. A more detailed synopsis may be found here.
Though the opera has been rarely performed in this country, it is certainly deserving of a wider audience. This production, which will feature both a new English translation by Monroe and his adaptation of the score for a small chamber ensemble, promises to be a treat for audiences of all ages with its blend of colorful characters, rollicking choruses, beautiful serenades and general silliness. All of the roles will be sung by students from the music department.
