For the first time in 40 years decorated film director Atom Egoyan is directing a show in Victoria.
Last time it was The End of Solomon Grundy, when the former Saanich teenager and Mount Douglas secondary grad ran the showcase performance of the 1977 Victoria school drama festival.
This time the 57-year-old is directing Jenufa, set in a small, turn-of-the-century town in Eastern Europe. ItB次元官网网址檚 a character study staged by Pacific Opera Victoria that deals with darker elements but has music - by Czech composer Leo拧 Jan谩cek (1881-1928) - thatB次元官网网址檚 gripped Egoyan since he first heard it many years ago.
The show runs at the Royal Theatre until Oct. 22.
Spoiler alert, the storyline hinges on a case of infanticide, a topic widely avoided in modern cinema and stage.
B次元官网网址漑Jenufa] story is dark but the music is incredible,B次元官网网址� said Egoyan, a one-time Cadboro Bay resident. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an amazing character study, [on opening night] people were completely riveted by it.
ItB次元官网网址檚 Egoyan after all, whose 1993 thinker and 2009 film are among his more notable works. HeB次元官网网址檚 often defined as a feature film writer and director known for shrouding a small, uplifting element within a darker, or at least dimmer, context.
Not surprisingly, Jenufa falls into that category.
B次元官网网址淵ou try to bring these stories to light, by watching this, something has to be uplifting about it, thereB次元官网网址檚 no point with all the darkness in the world around us in something that isnB次元官网网址檛 uplifting,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 something seductive and beautiful in Jenufa, there has to be, and I think there is in this music and the images on stage, which are compelling.B次元官网网址�
Egoyan and his family do return frequently to Saanich (mom and dad remain in Cadboro Bay), itB次元官网网址檚 what he considers a second home. But heB次元官网网址檚 unsure if, and when, he may direct another show here.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things thatB次元官网网址檚 been exciting to be back is seeing people from long ago who I donB次元官网网址檛 always [run into].B次元官网网址�
Even with a passion for short films in high school and throughout his bachelor in international relations at the University of Toronto, Egoyan held the idea of working in foreign service as a career. But while making short films in Toronto he became part of a crew known as the Toronto New Wave, a creative incubator that helped him find his footing.
B次元官网网址淲hen I left Victoria for [U of T] I didnB次元官网网址檛 think I would make a living as an artist, filmmaker, or playwright, but the opportunities came up.B次元官网网址�
Maestro Timothy Vernon conducts the Victoria Symphony for Jenufa, a co-production with Op茅ra de Montr茅al. Giuseppe Pietraroia directs the POV Chorus with soprano Lara Ciekiewicz as the title-character, mezzo-soprano Emilia Boteva, tenors John Lindsey and Colin Judson in their Canadian debuts.
Jenufa runs at the Royal Theatre (805 Broughton St.) Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 22, at 2:30 p.m. Pre-performance lectures take place in the theatre lobby one hour prior to each show. The opera is performed in Czech, with English surtitles.
Tickets are available by calling 250-386-6121 or online at www.rmts.bc.ca.
