Review: DSSO shines as international stars grace Duluth for ‘Porgy and Bess’

Written By: Sam Black

news@duluthnewstribune.com | May 21st 2007 – 12am.

The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra closed its 75th season Saturday night with a rousing performance of the opera “Porgy and Bess” by American composer George Gershwin.

While not a fully staged opera, the stage was exceptionally full. In addition to the DSSO on the right side of the stage, 111 listed members of the DSSO Chorus were on risers across the back. That left about half of the performing space for the 12 principal characters to sing and act out their roles.

Even before the stage was filled with people and instruments, the audience was vividly transported from the customary sterile white backdrop of the DECC Auditorium. Artist Ann Gumpper had designed sultry waves of orange, blue, green and red, depicting, perhaps, a summer evening at Catfish Row, on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina. Wooden fence posts, coils of rope and fishing nets created a three-dimensional texture. This was possible because the walls will come down with the soon-to-begin transformation of the performance stage for nextseason.

”Porgy and Bess” is an energetic, jazzy, emotion-filled opera from beginning to end. The DSSO played with crispness and drive, contributing richly to the success of the evening. DSSO Executive Director Andrew Berryhill and Music Director Markand Thakar brought an international cast of superstars to the top of the map.

As Porgy, Alvy Powell is recognized worldwide. His wife, he said, told him he had portrayed the role more than 2,000 times. He is a huge character on stage, with a voice and a presence commanding attention. Powell lived and breathed in the soul of the underestimated Porgy, and his will to survive was apparent in every musical phrase.

Amazingly, two other actors, Leon Williams as Sportin’ Life, and Kenneth Overton as Jim, have acted the role of Porgy around the world. Williams stole the show every time he sang, particularly “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” as he strutted across the stage with confidence and magnetism.

In the role of Bess, Janice Chandler-Eteme created several layers of emotion. Sometimes she was weak and addicted, other times strong and wanting to improve herself. The ambiguity demanded a very mature talent, and she had it abundantly.

As Clara, who loses her husband, Jake, in the storm, Melissa Givens began the evening with ”Summertime,” filled with pathos and nurturing, to set the tone for the entire production. Later, Tiffany Jackson as the prophetess-evangelist Serena motivated the cast away from its cynicism and despondence in the presence of drugs, violence and ocean storms.

Edward Pleasant, as Jake, early in the show displayed a voice far larger than his athletic frame suggested. And in spite of his evil stage personality, Crown, sung by Derrick Parker, displayed vocal techniques at once strong, sexy, comforting, confident — and violent.