A larger-than-life book adaptation of a beloved classic, Moby Dick, was recreated for the first time in Canada. Calgary Opera shines in this nautical tale, combining a humongous whale of a tale with an impressive nautical set, amazing actors and of course, awe-inspiring special effects.
Moby Dick is a classic of Captain Ahab, an imposing and stubborn character in a rough sailor overcoat and an English hat, and his crew on the ship Pequod. An arrogant and foolhardy captain, he strives to search the seven seas for the elusive and dangerous snow white whale, Moby Dick, and spear her for having taken away his leg. Young heroes are aboard this doomed whaling ship, young Greenhorn, Queequeg, and Starbuck, out hoping to make a fortune on oil. Calgary Opera can be compared to the journey for Moby Dick: the challenge to fully realizing, recreating and producing such a classic tale on a large scale could only be initially attempted by an opera company that was most brave and dedicated. In this case, Calgary Opera was able to spear the whale and congratulate itself on a rousing success.
The set of Moby Dick is awe inspiring and breath taking, as the set evolved nautical constantly adapted in the play, from the realistic set of heavy and rusted hooks and lines, sea weary ropes and humongous billowing sails to a backdrop with inserted pegs and brilliant lighting effects to displays diagrams of boats and harpoons. This set truly was magnificent and unbelievably imaginative.
Impressively, the backdrop animates with light, swinging vines rushing towards the audience to create the outline and diagram of a ship. Barreling inside the story, a hearty and happy-go-lucky crew, in billowing dress shirts, seasoned and dusty jackets and musty leather sing in unison to whales, wealth and home when Captain Ahab suddenly proposes a rather foolhardy and ambitious mission to search til the ends of the Earth for Moby Dick, and nails a gold doubloon onto the mask of the ship as a reward to the first man who sights the whale. Captain Ahab is certainly a blind avenger, with his authority overtly challenged by his first mate, Starbuck. Despite an air of authority and menace exerted from Captain Ahab, added by the ominous reminder of Captain Ahab’s careless savagery in his peg leg, Starbuck possesses the most sense in the rag tag crew and won’t back down from the intimidation. With the whole crew aroused and roaring to hunt for Moby Dick except Starbuck, a mighty adventure of sorrow, pride and revenge is sure to ensue.
As the story speeds along, Queequeg, a wonderful and dynamic character of an exotic, brave and powerful nature, becomes a prominent figure in the tale, and is accepted as one of the lead harpooners by Captain Ahab. Captain’s Ahab’s madness spirals deeper and deeper, the crew’s madness almost translating into mutiny, as days turns into weeks and weeks into months for the hunt of Moby Dick.
Most memorably, the scene of Starbuck’s confrontation with Captain Ahab in Ahab’s study below the deck, the tangible tension and the aggressive human reason against blind raging animal instinct between Captain Ahab and Starbuck. You begin to realize the fragility of the human condition- the tale reaches a horrific standpoint where Captain Ahab is willing to sacrifice Starbuck’s blood for his thirst for vengeance. The actors convey this scene quite magnificently.
Overall, the production of Moby Dick was an astronomical and enlightening experience, that combines modern technology and wonderful and detailed sets to realize the Canadian premier of a classic. It was an amazing and heart stopping performance, simply original and dazzled the crowd to no ends. Thanks goes to the Calgary Opera for providing this incredible opportunityto see this grand opera!
