BWW Reviews: MASTER CLASS Is More Than A Performance, It Is A Lesson

Wednesday 12 August 2015, 8pm, Hayes Theatre, Potts Point

Maria Mercedes captures the passion, determination, and dedication of the legendary opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's MASTER CLASS. Drawing on his own experiences witnessing Callas' classes at New York's Juilliard School of Music, McNally channels the energy and acidity of the former star that seeks to teach students that being an opera singer is so much more than just singing beautifully.

Director Daniel Lammin has stripped the black box space of Hayes Theatre back to just a piano, high stool and table with water as two people wait on the seats at side stage. The attire of the man and the young woman are the only nod to the era which is clearly the 1970's with his brown suit and moustache and her mini dress and knee high socks and sandals. As the man, takes his position at the piano we are greeted by Maria Callas, clad in black with hair pinned up.

It is quickly understood that the audience is not a standard audience, but students witnessing the Master Class as Callas sets the ground rules of "no applause, no photographs taken, no autograph seekers" because this is a lesson, not a performance. As she shares her first bit of wisdom, to "have a look, be someone" as she questions why the brown suited pianist, Manny Weinstock (Cameron Thomas), is not wearing the red sweater he wore yesterday Callas' blunt manner becomes clear as she also turns on the members of the audience.

There is a great deal of humor in the brusque delivery and turn of phrase as Mercedes portrays Callas with passion and honesty, ensuring that the performance is not a caricature of Callas' reputation. The unabashed dressing down of the students as she delivers the direct, insulting observations and suggestions mirrors the lack of coddling she experienced in her early life but is softened by an undertone that she is being brutal to help them be better. Mercedes presents Callas with a dry humor and frankness but also an energy and requisite confidence and conceit of an unrivalled diva. The three students vary in personality and purpose for singing from the mini dress clad Sophie De Palma (Georgia Wilkinson), Sharon Graham (Teresa Duddy) in evening gown and crystals and tight pant tenor Tony Candolino (Blake Bowden).

As she seeks to get each student to understand what they are singing, each having varied knowledge of the underlying purpose of the works they are performing, we learn things that are beneficial to more than just performers. The instruction "Find out who you are" and the importance of understanding words and emotions can be applied to other disciplines and facets of life. Through the lessons, Callas also shares memories and experiences from where she sourced her emotions to understand works such as her relationships with Ari and Battista (Aristotle Onassis and Giovanni Battista Meneghini), her mother, and her rivalries. As the singers use works from Callas career for their performances the Diva is drawn into her memories of not only her performances as archive recordings take over from the live performance and Brendan Jellie's(Lighting Designer) lighting changes moves focus, but also events of her personal life that mirror the emotions involved. Mercedes expression of Callas recollections captures her depth of feeling along with her vulnerability that she'd not normally express to the public according to her belief that "you can't afford to have feelings".

MASTER CLASS is a wonderful piece of entertainment and education with some amazing singing from Wilkinson, Duddy and Bowden and moving realistic performance from Mercedes. As well as being an entertaining insight into both the life of the Opera Great, and the construction of a meaningful song performance for those wanting to be entertained, this is work would also be useful for aspiring performers to see that there is a lot more singing than beautiful music.

MASTER CLASS

Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point

11 August - 30 August 2015

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