Lago Vista Player's

Lend Me a Tenor
a farce by Ken Ludwig
 

The Lago Vista Players’ production, Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig is pure, operatic nuttiness. The show is a wild ride through the biggest night in the history of the 1934 Cleveland Grand Opera Company as world-famous Tito Morelli is to perform with the opera at the gala season opener. When the star is late, then, through a series of mishaps, passes out and is thought dead, the opera company’s general manager, Saunders is left in a dire situation. Panic-stricken, he convinces his assistant, Max to don the Otello costume and try to fool the audience! Meanwhile, Morelli revives and gets into his other Otello costume. The result is two Otellos running around in costume with several women running after, each thinking she is with the star, also known as Il Stupendo! Leading the cast as Max is Brad Chapin, first seen on the Lago Vista stage last fall in On Golden Pond. Bill Angelo is Tito and Saunders is portrayed by Players newcomer Derek Adams. Lisa McCrory, in her first Players production, plays Maggie, a not-so-innocent ingénue. Brenda Ciaccio makes her debut as a libidinous soprano. Rounding out the cast are Players veterans Susan Euresti as the pretentious Julia, Opera Guild president, and Mary Anne Cecil who embodies Tito’s jealous wife, Maria.  Michael Kolodzy, who has grown a lot taller since he appeared in the Players’ Auntie Mame, adds to the comedy as the music-mad bellhop.

Lend Me a Tenor is directed by Julie Angelo. Pat Molloy and Frank Miller are serving as producers. They have recruited an experienced group of crew heads to ensure a great production, including Jules Styles - stage manager, Janet Cumpton - costumes, Jim Hart - set construction, Jeane Sholes - set decoration, Perry Sanderson - lights and sound, and Fran Hart - props.

 Lend Me a Tenor opens March 12 with performances at 7:30 pm March 12, 13 and 19, 20 and a 2 pm Sunday matinee on March 14 in the K Oaks Clubhouse in Lago Vista.. Tickets at $10 can be purchased at the Shippin’ Post on Lohman Ford Rd.

The action takes place in a hotel suite in Cleveland in 1934.