THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 TAG: 9512280129
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEAN GEDDES, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
A mask from ``La Traviata,'' an ornate headpiece from ``Turandot,'' a parasol from ``Madam Butterfly.'' They're all things Julia Stevens keeps in her trunk. But she doesn't keep them tucked away in her attic.
She lugs them all around Hampton Roads presenting the Virginia Opera's Traveling Trunk Show to schools and community groups.
Stevens recently put on the popular program for residents of Westminster Canterbury Retirement Community and was pleased with the way the audience participated in the presentation. A retired judge, John Perry, donned the hat from ``Turandot'' while Dr. John Stewart put on the 3-foot-tall head mask from ``A Christmas Carol.'' The audience was delighted.
``This is our way of explaining about opera and how it's produced, without the group having to be present for a back stage tour of the opera house,'' said Stevens, who conceived the idea some time ago and put the program together.
Not only does she bring along the trunk with its contents, but she also has a tape recorder to play excerpts from the various operas she discusses, blue prints to show how the stage is to be set up for the productions and her vast knowledge of composers, singers and opera anecdotes that adds spice to the show.
It's a hands-on show. Sketches of costumes, plus samples of the fabrics are passed throughout the audience, and if they like, they are welcomed to try on some of the items.
Holding up a gold and black brocade costume worn by a male chorus member from the opera, ``Anna Bolena,'' Stevens explained that the cost for each costume ranges from $1,500 to $3,200 and in order to keep them fresh between dry cleanings, they are sprayed with either vodka or clear liquid after each performance.
``Wig making hasn't changed much since the 1700s'', she said showing the audience a wig, created by the opera wig master. ``It takes about five hours to put the cap together and about 40 hours to put on the hair as each hair is individually knotted on the cap.'' Most of the hair comes from China and the cost is $900 per pound.
The 3-foot-tall head mask from ``A Christmas Carol,'' she explained, holds a hard hat for the actor's head as well as wire to support it on his shoulders. In order to see, he has to look out through the mask's nostrils.
Anecdotes about composers and their life experiences as well as funny incidents concerning the cast keep the audience attentive throughout the presentations.
Stevens, who has a marketing background and now is an active member of the opera docent program, said opera is ``a magical, musical drama. It encompasses love, hate, humor, death and despair,'' she said. ``To simply talk about it to an audience, would be difficult to keep their attention, but with our visuals you can show costumes, masks and all sorts of items and allow them to touch them. This is what makes an impact on people.''
She said she, and other docents in training, will bring the free show to groups of 15 or more throughout the area. Call the Harrison Opera House at 627-9545, Ext. 507. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Julia Stevens, a Virginia Opera docent, eyes a prop used in ``A
Christmas Carol,'' part of the traveling collection used to acquaint
groups with opera.
by CNB