July 12, 2010
By George Laverock
On A
ugust 12, 13 and 14, Fugue Theatre will be producing a new operetta for MusicFest Vancouver at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. The new music theatre piece is being created by composer Cameron Wilson and writer Kico Gonzalez-Risso. It will feature four singers and a four piece band. The story involves a psychic detective (Slim Diggins), who is hired to help a woman whose husband has mysteriously disappeared.Here is a Q & A that I did with writer Kico Gonzalez-Risso.
Q1: What’s the significance of the title?
The “supernatural” is in the title because our protagonist has a psychic link to the dead. His three partners are all ghosts. The piece is written in a film noir style - which often involves anti-heroes, femme fatales, shady characters, lots of plot twists, fedoras and booze.
Q2: What is it like to work with composer/violinist Cameron Wilson? How do you work together?
Cam and I are both Noir fans, and I find him very easy to work with. I love music and he loves mysteries. From day one we’ve been on the same page in terms of storyline, characters and style. We watched many classic film noirs together, studying their elements – including how music was used. With SUPERNATUAL NOIR, I’d write the scenes, we’d read them aloud and discuss who’s doing what to whom. Cam’s been brilliant at coming up with music that’s has a cool, Noir feel. I don’t know of any other opera that’s been composed purely in the style of serious Noir.
Q3: How would you describe the tone of the new work. Is it comedic?
The work has lots of humour in it – including some dark comedy - in true Noir fashion - but, in the end, it is a dramatic murder mystery, complete with a love story. The music is edgy with lots of lyricism. The score is very innovative; as with the plot, there are lots of twists in the music.
Q4. MusicFest Vancouver is featuring Australia this year. What’s the Australian connection with Supernatural Noir?
Now, George, I can’t give away too much here. Let’s just say that things happen in Australia that set the story in motion. There’s a didgeridoo involved as well. (Come to think of it, I can’t think of any Noir I’ve seen or read that features a didgeridoo, so this could be a first.)
Q5: What makes you so excited about the singers/actors chosen for this first production of your work?
Their versatility. For professional singers this cast comprises award-winning actors, as well. We have a blend of music theatre and classically trained singers who can, and have, performed both the newest plays and Shakespeare. Cam and I feel very lucky to have these four performers. They’re tailor-made for this project. Then we have JOE TRIO, a Noir ensemble if there ever was one. The Trio has a number of surprises in store for their fans.
Q6: What is the environmental connection to the plot?
Another leading question! Let’s just say there are things floating in our oceans that should be watched carefully. Very, carefully…! ( Fade to…Noir.)
