Tameka L. Hicks 18

Having sung and acted for nine years does not prevent Bethany Surridge from experiencing stage fright before each performance.

Now, as the main character in the opera, Susannah, she said she is experiencing one of the most difficult roles she has ever played.

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It’s kind of scary because the opera is named after my character, said Surridge, a second-year graduate student in opera and theater performance from Fayette, N.C. My first opera was Juliet,’ and this is an even bigger part than that. It’s a lot of work.

For six weeks, 18 SIUC music and theater students have rehearsed for the opera.

Susannah will be performed at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday in Shryock Auditorium. Susannah is a 1950s opera that takes place in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains.

To capture this setting, real pine branches will be suspended over the audience in Shryock as well as risers placed on the stage for audience seating.

In the opera, Susannah is shunned by the community once the church elders find her bathing in a creek used for baptism. Susannah attempts to disprove the community’s notion of her as a sinner throughout the show.

She makes a definite change in the opera from the beginning to the end, Surridge said. First she’s happy and light-hearted, and toward the end everything is shattered. She turns into this bitter, half-crazed girl.

Comparing the opera to the Scarlet Letter, director Timothy Fink describes Susannah as a symbol of the love of life, optimism and youth that eventually is destroyed by the community.

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It’s a story about hate and how it can destroy individuals, Fink, an assistant professor in the School of Music, said. It’s how one person’s hate gets others involved.

Fink said the elements included in Susannah were perfect for his directing talents. He has also directed Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Widow and the Magic Flute.

Last spring I thought if I matched up the talent pool that I have here, it would be an opportunity to show them off, he said. It’s a good drama.

Fink said Surridge’s talent contributes to making Susannah a good drama. As difficult as it is, Surridge makes her character believable.

Realism. She’s a very good actress, and she sings very well, he said. She looks the part and sounds the part.

Surridge said she enjoys musical theater. Because the music is an important part of the opera, she is more involved with her part. She said the music is written as if the characters are speaking instead of singing.

Because the music is there, I get more emotional with it, Surridge said. A lot of times the music reflects what the character is feeling. It makes it easy for me to feel. Music adds twice as much to it.

Fink agrees that the integration of music and theater adds emotion to drama and creates realism in the opera.

It’s realistic as opposed to something that’s a fantasy or a period piece, he said. Sometimes an opera can be good with bad music, and an opera can be bad with good music.

Surridge said the opera is filled with good acting and singing and gives her the chance to display her talents.

I actually get to sing, Surridge said. I think I’m better at singing than acting. As an actress and a singer I’m learning how to work with character and showing the change and making it believable.

Other than the believability catching the audience’s attention, Fink wants the audience to understand the message offered up in the opera.

The audience should appreciate the art form itself fine acting, fine singing and the commitment to the principles of beauty, Fink said. I love it. It’s a beautiful and powerful piece.