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April is an exciting month in Naples –and this author is featuring three very different stories of love on stage for all to enjoy.
by Claudia Polzin, Independent Consultant
t The Naples Players, the 1,003 in Spain – an impressive 2,065 conquests. He continues his
Sound of Music will be seductions and attempts at seduction until he finally gets caught
A concluding on April 2 – be sure up in his web of lies and intrigue. During several twists and turns,
to see it before it closes. This musical is everyone figures out that Don Giovanni is the murderer of Donna
the final collaboration between Rodgers Anna’s father.
and Hammerstein and has become Ultimately, Giovanni goes to the graveyard where the
the world’s most beloved musical. It Commendatore is buried and sees the statue of the Commendatore
continues to inspire young love and love who surprisingly agrees to come to Don Giovanni’s home for
between two very unlikely people – dinner. When he arrives he offers Giovanni a chance to repent and
a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain in Austria when he refuses – as the statue disappears after taking Giovanni’s
during Hitler’s reign of terror. hand - Giovanni cries out in pain and is surrounded by a chorus of
Gulfshore Opera will be presenting one of the greatest operas demons who carry him to Hell.
of all time – Don Giovanni with music by Amadeus Mozart The final chorus tells us the moral of the opera: “such is the end
and Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. This opera blends comedy, of the evildoer: the death of a sinner always reflects his life.”
melodrama and supernatural elements; however, the composer This grand opera production will be at both the Barbara B
cataloged it as an opera buffa. The opera premiered in 1787 by the Mann Hall on April 21; and Artis—Naples on April 30 with
Prague Italian Opera Company. Giovanni is a young, arrogant, both performances in partnership with the Naples Philharmonic
and sexually promiscuous nobleman, who abuses and outrages Orchestra.
everyone else in the cast until he encounters something that he The third and final production is one of love: Rock of Ages,
cannot kill, beat up, dodge or outwit. opening on April 27 at TheatreZone. This play follows the youthful
The opera opens with Leporello, Don Giovanni's servant, dramas of star-crossed lovers while featuring 1980s classic rock hits.
keeping watch while his master is attempting to seduce the Originally debuting on Broadway back in 2009, Rock of Ages is set
Commendatore’s daughter Donna Anna. The attempted in Los Angeles. As developers try to clean up the Sunset Strip of its
seduction takes a bad turn and the Commendatore is killed in a sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle, aspiring rockers and actresses
duel with Giovanni. Donna Anna returns to the scene and finds join forces to protest the destruction. This production is one that will
her father dead and asks her fiancé to swear vengeance against leave the audience cheering for the characters.
her father’s murderer (at this point they don’t know that it was Three very different stories of love – spanning time from 1787,
Giovanni). to Europe in 1938 to America in the 1980’s. Also representing three
Giovanni continues his escapades and Leporello is happy to very different styles of music – ranging from classic opera to rock
recite his conquests which include: 640 women in Italy, 231 in and roll.
Germany, 100 in France, 91 in Turkey, but the all-time high was
Enjoy the variety of love stories in April – and
Don’t forget to check out the many concerts in Cambier Park and all of our area churches –
there is deFInitely something for everyone to enjoy in Naples.

38 Life in Naples | April 2023