CSUN Takes Light Approach to Opera With ‘Flute’

People who are intimidated--or anesthetized--by opera might want to try changing their luck with Cal State Northridge’s production of “The Magic Flute.” This isn’t the usual heavy diet of period accuracy and incomprehensible singing.

“It’s not for the opera-goer who’s used to seeing ‘The Magic Flute’ done real seriously,” said David W. Scott, who directs the show. “It’s more for people who don’t go to opera a lot but would like to see one and have a good experience.”

The production, which opened last weekend, concludes with evening performances tonight, Saturday and Sunday in the Campus Theatre. The 40-member cast and chorus is made up of CSUN students, former students and young professional musicians.

The music, some of Mozart’s most familiar, is provided by the CSUN Symphony conducted by David Aks. The libretto is in English.

“It’s a light version of ‘The Magic Flute,’ ” Scott said. “The audiences last weekend really responded and liked it. I’ve never seen a ‘Magic Flute’ that gets laughs and guffaws like this. We’re deadly serious about the music, but I’ve never thought it’s that serious a story.”

The plot involves a quest by the handsome prince Tamino and his sidekick Papageno to find and win the loves of their lives. Throw in a beautiful princess, some dragons, a few animals, an evil queen and other villains and you have the makings of a fairy tale spectacular.

“It’s one of the tougher roles I’ve done because baritones usually play the evil guy and here you play a childlike guy,” said Jason Daniel of Northridge, a graduate student in voice who plays Papageno. “He’s the comic relief of the show. All he cares about is food, something to drink and finding a little wife.”

Scott, a CSUN music professor and chairman of the department’s voice area, said some audience members have used the word “camp” to describe the production.

“I don’t think that’s too strong a word either,” he said. “It’s a fable of good and evil, but on the light side. Anything really goes in terms of the visual--the men in armor, the costumes and so on. We’re not dealing with a period, we’re dealing with a look.

“The men in armor are a little like the Michelin man. We use Jedi spears. And the three ladies that appear throughout the story, we treat them like Amazon types.”

The production comes in the bicentennial year of Mozart’s death. Scott said the production revives a tradition of summer opera at CSUN that went on hiatus for four years.

“The Magic Flute,” 7:30 tonight, Saturday and Sunday; Campus Theatre, Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St.; tickets are $10, $7 and $6; call (818) 885-3093.