San Francisco Opera, trying to deal with a cumulative deficit of well
over $16 million, may be hurting for money, but you'd never know it from
the upcoming production of "Il barbiere di Siviglia," in Johannes Schaaf's
direction, designed by Hans Dieter Schaal.  The set is a three-story
Bauhaus structure, made of steel, the heaviest object in company history,
a back-breaking challenge to the stagehands, whose ranks have been reduced
by administrative cuts.

Perhaps to keep them in line, the men's chorus makes an entrance in Nazi
Storm Trooper uniforms, bringing a new twist of pioneering dramaturgy
to dear old Seville.  Production stage manager Terry Ganley will not
have to put up with weight or interpretation, a la Schaaf und Schaal -
she has sought refuge in New York, has signed up with the Met.

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
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