The Jungle Book- an Engrossing Operatic Adaptation That's a Pittsburgh Area Peremiere

 

Yesterday afternoon, I sat through a performance of The Jungle Book, an opera currently being staged by Resonance Works Pittsburgh. Going in, I really didn't know what to expect. Was it geared for an audience of children? Would adults enjoy it as well? After all, Resonance Works' last year's production of The Little Prince, another opera for a multi-generational audience, sold out.  Because I enjoyed last year's offering, I decided to give The Jungle Book a try.

Surprisingly, the audience was overwhelmingly adult, with maybe two dozen or so children present.

I was unfamiliar with the plot but remember seeing the Disney  film of the same name pop up on my streaming services. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the film nor read Rudyard Kipling's original story, although I hear this prose is wonderfully crafted.  Someday soon, I hope to explore its literary merits.

Staged at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, the production opens on a dimly lit set by Britton Mauk (after all the story takes place in a jungle) with just enough visuals to suggest a rainforest environment. Sound effects like ape howls and bird tweets further the impression.

The musical score by Kamala Sankaram weaves elements of Western traditions with classical Indian music including ragas and vocal percussion. In this Pittsburgh area premiere, the composer gave Res Works the go ahead to include the sitar in the orchestra. Additionally, sitarist Michael Griska played the instrument, made famous by Ravi Shanker and the Beatles, just prior to curtain.

Librettist Kelley Rourke traces an easy-to-follow narrative, made even clearer with words projected above the stage via Supertitles. The story line centers around Mowgli (Lianne Fileta), a human cub, wandering alone through the jungle after her mother was killed by Shere Khan, a ferocious tiger who now seeks out Mowgli in the hope of inflicting on her a similar fate.

Fortunately, she’s reluctantly taken in by a pack of wolves portrayed by 16 members of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus.  At their head, Rakasha (Timothi Wiliams) manages to control them with matriarchal instincts, concern and care.

The youth Chorus sings (and acts) splendidly, their combined voices often reaching celestial harmonies as they cavort around stage wearing wolf headdresses. Williams, too, is a vocal mezzo-soprano standout with a charming stage presence. Adding a lot of boyish charm to the stage, Hudson Vasquez Schmitt is endearing as Little Brother, one of the wolf cubs.

All the adult soloists sing beautifully and with expressive quality. Sergio Martinez as Baloo, the bear, has a powerful bass range capable of reaching the low notes with seeming ease. He also has some of the production’s funniest moments when he prances around the stage in an oversized bear costume and a belly three sizes too big that jiggles and shakes like something you’d get from a baseball mascot.

Samina Aslam, is a kind and gentle panther with a secret she relates to Mowgli. Hers is a velvety smooth voice that projects with power and command.

Adrianna Cleveland brilliantly creates Hyena, at once comic and sinister, fun-to-watch and mischievous.  But it’s Karlos Pinero-Mercado that everyone has their eyes on as the threatening, ferocious Shere Kahn.

Pinero-Mercado is no cowardly lion as seen in “The Wizard of Oz,” but a formidable presence that strikes fear into the wolf pack that significantly outnumbers him.

The opera’s themes are appropriate for our times as they explore issues like family, empathy, belonging, diversity and the power of community and working together. As such, the work is enjoyable for children as well as adults with an engaging score, n adventurous narrative and many incandescent voices. The opera runs an engrossing 80 minutes.

Performance extras:

🎨 Activity Bags for Kids: The first 50 children at each performance will receive a fun activity bag—be sure to grab yours early!

🖍️ Coloring Books: For the young at heart, we’ll have extra coloring books to take home—perfect for those who love a creative outlet.

🎁 Special Giveaway: We’ll be giving away a special Jungle Book-inspired gift basket at each performance.  Drop a ticket in the box when you check in to enter. A winner will be randomly selected just before show time, and announced during the curtain speech at each performance.

🎶 Each performance will begin with an introduction and demonstration of Indian Classical Music elements by special guest, sitarist Michael Griska! 

The final performance is on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave. in Carnegie. For tickets, go to https://www.resonanceworks.org/jungle-book.