Scheduled for the Valentine’s weekend, the play depicts our wants and desires and how sacrifices are made in the name of love.
“Every year the Friends of the Arts do something a little bit unusual on Valentine’s Day,” said Harold Easton, the Thespian Society’s chapter director.
He directs the play with Frank Gibson, Friends of the Arts board member.
Set in 1934, “Lend Me a Tenor” revolves around renowned tenor Tito Merelli, popularly known as “Il Stupendo.” He will be played by Richard Hamilton.
The other cast members are Linn Asper as Saunders, general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company; Jay Solly as Max, Saunders’ assistant; Sophia Kakuse as Maggie, Saunders’ daughter; Aiza Mendoza as Diana, a soprano and a vamp; Dr. Susan Fishman-Tudor as Julia, chairwoman of the Opera Guild; Amy Tighe as Maria, Tito’s wife; and Wilden Mangahis as the bellhop.
Working together these past few weeks, the cast members said they have developed a keen understanding of each other’s characters.
Saunders, for example, is a man driven by greed and is not a very nice guy, Asper said. “I hope I’m not like him at all. He yells a lot,” he added. He prepares for his character by yelling at people, Asper said in jest.
Tito Merelli loves his art and his ability to teach and that’s why he takes Max under his wings.
“Tito is a really nice guy but has a weakness for women. Underneath it all he cares about Max and really loves his wife. He is a real person,” Hamilton said.
Solly said Max “is a young man who, at the end of the day, loves a young woman and wants to win her over and he does so by going through a unique and fun to watch transformation.”
Maria is someone suffering because of her husband’s career but she still stands by her man.
“She is described as being very excitable and passionate. She’s trying to let people know that you can put your passion out there but it’s not just always on fire — there’s some thoughtfulness behind it. What she really wants is just to be with her husband,” Tighe said.
Diana is a very ambitious girl and will do anything to get what she wants.
“She wants to be a big time opera singer. She is not really bad but she needs to be popular,” Mendoza said.
A Marianas High school student, Mangahis plays the bellhop and is the youngest member of the cast.
“I’m Morelli’s fan. I got really excited because he is my number one idol. Whenever I’m on the scene I try to take the stage away and be funny and sing a little to impress him,” he said.
The play is a team effort and each actor learn from their different roles as well as learn from each other through their acting.
To get tickets and for more information, call Dr. Susan Fishman-Tudor at 287-2225 or Frank Gibson at 287-7476.
