Three New Principals in ‘Fledermaus’

Three new principals were subjected to the vagaries and indignities of amplification in the Saturday “Fledermaus.” But the unwelcome dollop of farce was solely the contribution of the new Rosalinde.

Veering from ditsy, distracted nitwit to vamp to caricature of operatic heroine in distress, Sharon Christman seemed to be trying out various approaches to Rosalinde rather than making any single one credible. But she sang with purity and elegance as long as she did not venture too near the infernal hidden microphones. Whenever she did, all bets were off and her voice could turn shrill and squally.

“Fledermaus” veteran Charles Roe drew an urbane, bemused, detailed portrait of Eisenstein whenever he wasn’t simply walking through the part. But vocally, he seemed to sound grainy, dry, constricted and strained.

As Alfred, Rico Serbo acted with reasonable ardor and sang, if electronics are to be trusted, with an ample if steely tenor.

Originally announced as the new Adele, Evelyn de la Rosa did not sing, reportedly, because she had the flu. Cheryl Parrish repeated the role, and the rest of the cast was the same on as opening night.

The two casts will alternate in performances Thursday through Sunday.