Midnight Son

Midnight Son
By Gordon Kerry. Victorian Opera. Conductor: Ollivier Philippe Cunéo. Director: Nicki Wendt. Merlyn Theatre, Malthouse. May 16 – 23, 2012

I was one of a privileged crowd to experience the World Premiere of Gordon Kerry’s latest opera, Midnight Son. Based on the murder of Maria Korp in 2005, the names were changed and there was probably some licence taken with the story line, but it was a powerful drama.

I was blown away.

Usually with opera one goes to appreciate the music and the voices, but with this opera it was the drama and characterizations to the fore. The chemistry and sexual tension between the three protagonists was as good as I’ve seen. These were real characters and the audience was with them all the way.

The story was told backwards, starting with Ray’s suicide. As each scene was presented, new layers were revealed, culminating in Ray meeting his wife, Marisa. Then the lover appeared, the rope Ray used to hang himself in the first scene dropped from the ceiling, and the lights went out. It was very effective.

The static set was based on a garage Roller-door, which was very appropriate. Ray hanged himself in the garage and Clara strangled Marisa in the same place. There were projections on the door: heartbeats when Marisa was dying in hospital, and grainy video footage of Ray’s house as he filmed a final message. There was a minor glitch when the projections continued after he’d finished filming. Couches, a barbecue, tables and chairs were moved on and off for different scenes and the action flowed. The lighting was very effective.

The opera was cast from strength with Antoinette Halloran and Byron Watson as Ray and Marisa and Dimity Shepherd as Clara. Roxane Hislop and Jonathan Bode played various other characters with great aplomb. It was sung in English and the surtitles were almost unnecessary.

Though modern, Gordon Kerry’s music was approachable and the chamber orchestra did well. Louis Nowra’s libretto was brilliant, making the story in reverse easily understood.

This is an opera fans in Melbourne should not miss.

Graham Ford

Images: (top) Byron Watson (Ray Clark) and Antoinette Halloran (Marisa Clark) and (lower) Byron Watson (Ray Clark) and Dimity Shepherd (Clara Johnson) & (lower) Byron Watson (Ray Clark) and Dimity Shepherd (Clara Johnson) in Victorian Opera's Midnight Son. Photographer: Jeff Busby.

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