Oberlin Opera Upholds Excellence Under New Direction

Because of the dark and twisted nature of many Grimm’s fairy tales, I anticipated of Oberlin Opera Theater’s production of Hänsel und Gretel to be right in line with the lapsing spooky season. However, guest stage director Kevin Newbury creates a world that dazzles and delights, set in New York City in the midst of the ’70s housing crisis. This is beautifully realized from the design standpoint. The chorus, a diverse array of iconic characters, fill Scenic Designer and Lecturer in Theater Laura Carlson-Tarantowski’s elegant and lived-in set design. Street art, featuring an iconic Cat Stevens lyric towers overhead as onstage flashlights, casts complex shadows, and a giant food truck serves as the Witch’s cottage. The Witch herself, though not introduced musically until the very end, makes many strong appearances.

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