Opera Orlando Makes Orlando Fringe Debut with THE COMPANION & SAFE WORD

Will Mistress Salomé lose her head? What happens when upgrades go wrong? These and many other burning questions will be answered when Opera Orlando plays the Orlando Fringe for six performances, beginning on May 16 and concluding on May 27.

For its first foray to the Fringe, Opera Orlando put the effort into the hands of its director-in-residence, Eric Pinder. Pinder, a stalwart of the Orlando Fringe since 1995, has written and performed in seven of his own Fringe shows, performed in nine other Fringe shows, and hosted the Fringe Preview show nine times. For this year's festival, Pinder will direct two one-act operas: "The Companion" and "Safe Word"from Three Way, the work of composer Robert Paterson and librettist David Cote.

"I first read about Three Way when it premiered last year and immediately thought the subject matter was a perfect fit for Fringe," explained Pinder. "All you really have to say is 'dominatrix opera' and people are intrigued."

Pinder is referring to "Safe Word" in the above statement. Mistress Salomé is a high-priced dominatrix in a private dungeon who is breaking in a new client, a cocky businessman who pays to be humiliated. Despite their "safe word," the role playing soon spirals out of control as the two fight for power and take the session to places neither expected.

Joining "Safe Word" on the program to be performed in the Yellow Venue (Goldman Theater) of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater is "The Companion," a futuristic fable. Here a woman workaholic lives with her android lover who looks and sounds perfect despite the occasional pop-up ad. But is perfect always better? While installing experimental software in the droid, a computer technician puts the woman's true desires to the test.

"The material may sound prurient, but there is a definite humanity in these pieces that makes the impression more than just a one-note idea," said Pinder.

The short operas feature soprano Samantha Barnes Daniel and mezzo-soprano Sarah Purser. Musical direction is by Deniz Uz, who also will accompany the performances on piano.

"The Orlando Fringe has a unique role in our community and captures a powerful pulse that brings artists and audience together," said Gabriel Preisser, the executive and artistic director of Opera Orlando. "All of our presentations reflect the importance of being a contemporary voice for our art form, one that holds up a mirror that reflects the age we live in."

Visit operaorlando.org and orlandofringe.org for additional information.