NATCHITOCHES – The NSU Opera Theater Ensemble will perform “Im Weissen Rössl” (The White Horse Inn) on Oct. 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Dr. Marcy McKee is the director. Admission is free and open to the public. A livestream will be available at capa.nsula.edu/livestream.
This operetta is a comedy in three acts by Ralph Benatzky. This tale takes place at a historical inn in the Salzkammergut area of Austria. It is a story about Leopold, the head waiter at The White Horse Inn, who is frazzled. It is high season for the hotel, and he is inundated with guests demanding his attention. Not to mention his feelings for his boss, Josepha Vogelhuber, which are definitely complicating matters. And then there’s the issue of Dr. Siedler returning to the hotel today, much to Josepha’s anticipation.
It is just too much for Leopold when Josepha asks him to leave a gift basket in Dr. Siedler’s room, and Leopold finds himself admitting how he really feels about her, and risking his job. Josepha threatens to fire him, but right now they need to prepare for the arrival of another distinguished guest: Kaiser Franz Joseph. Leopold does his best to keep his professionalism, but ends up causing an embarrassing scene when Josepha arrives arm in arm with Dr. Siedler. The Kaiser understands exactly what has happened, and advises Josepha to live in reality and to stop dreaming. She calls a meeting with Leopold, who is expecting to be dismissed. Instead, she dismisses him as head waiter, and promotes him to husband.
The cast is Ella Castro, Caloocan, Philippines and Molly Law of Paris, Texas, as Josepha Vogelhuber, Douglas D. Flores Reyes of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, as Leopold Brandmeyer, Jackson Holoubek of Shreveport as Wilhelm Giesecke, Malaina Aultman of Ball and Kat Wilkenson of Patterson as Ottilie Giesecke, Landry Allen of West Monroe as Dr. Otto Siedler, Froy Hernandez Diaz of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, as Sigismund Sülzheimer.
The cast also includes Jeremiah Mitchell of Alexandria as Professor Dr. Hinzelmann, Emilie Comeaux of Lafayette and Jaeli Williams of Alexandria as Klärchen Hinzelmann, NSU faculty member Dr. Robert Cardwell as Kaiser Franz Joseph II, Maudiel Aguilar of Joconales of Santa Bárbara, Honduras, as Piccolo, Stephanie Rebekah Hall of Stonewall as Kathi and Jose Del Rio of Boutte as Tourguide/Franz.
Members of the chorus are Allison Flores of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Brooke Jones of St. Rose, Gabriel Polo of Cartegena, Colombia, and Griselda Ramirez of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Dan Ley is the pianist and Dr. William Reber is the conductor. Choreography is by Brooke Jones.
