Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has opened its 50th season with a superb production of Die Fledermaus. It’s a perfect way to celebrate the company’s golden anniversary.

The comedy starts earlier than usual in this version of the classic operetta by Johan Strauss, Jr. OTSL’s stage director, Shawna Lucey, has devised an inspired comic scene that is performed during the overture. The delightful sketch portrays a practical joke Gabriel von Eisenstein plays on his friend Dr. Falke while the two are returning home from a costume party.

In the original libretto, Falke is dressed as a bat (“fledermaus” in German). At OTSL, he is dressed as Batman because the operetta’s setting has been effectively shifted from Strauss’s mid-1870s Vienna to late-1950s New York City.

The absorbing action during the overture includes a cleverly depicted subway ride. The conclusion is riotous. Seán Curran’s choreography vividly reflects the twists and turns in the music.

The humiliation caused by Eisenstein’s trick is the reason Falke carries out a plot in Die Fledermaus to make Eisenstein the butt of an embarrassing joke. Eisenstein’s trick is mentioned but not shown in the original libretto. I found myself much more sympathetic to Falke than I have been in the other stagings after seeing the Lucey’s treatment of the overture.

The key to Falke’s revenge plot is getting Eisenstein and his wife, Rosalinde, to go separately and without out each other’s knowledge to Prince Orlofsky’s Halloween party at his fashionable club in 1959. When Eisenstein encounters Rosalinde, he does not recognize her because she is in disguise. The fascinating stranger with whom Eisenstein flirts is actually his wife. The operetta’s plot has many other strands that all lead to a spirited conclusion.

The OTSL cast is filled with star quality. The comic acting is hilarious; the singing is gorgeous. As Rosalinde, Sara Gartland makes a wondrous transition from a bored housewife in her own kitchen to an irresistible Hungarian countess at Orlofsky’s ball. Edward Nelson’s Eisenstein is a debonair man-about-town whose eagerness to take Falke’s bait earns him his comic comeuppance. Johnathan McCullough is a cagey Dr. Falke. Kelsey Lauritano is delightfully eccentric as Prince Orlofsky. Alfred, a singer and a former flame of Rosalinde’s, is played by Joshua Blue, who has great fun with Alfred’s ego and his passion for Rosalinde.

As Adele, the Eisensteins’ maid, Deanna Breiwick makes the most of the comic opportunities when Adele is told she must pretend to be an actress at Orlofsky’s party. Robert Mellon displays an outstanding gift for comedy in his portrayal of prison warden Frank. Adele’s sister, Sally, is winningly played by Sophia Baete. Gregory V. Sliskovich is a hoot as Dr. Blind, Eisenstein’s lawyer. Oscar Olivo provides uproarious physical comedy as Frosch, a jailer, at the start of Act 3.

Conductor George Manahan leads the St. Louis Symphony in a brilliant account of Strauss’s great score. The chorus under chorus master Andrew Whitfield makes splendid contributions to the scenes at the party and the jail.

Robert Innes Hopkins’ clever set design converts with astonishing speed from a striking mid-century modern kitchen in Act 1 to Orlofsky’s swank private club in Act 2. Hopkin’s lavish costumes add to the visual splendor along with wig and makeup designs by Krystal Balleza and Will Vicari. Eric Southern’s lighting enlivens the party scene and in one number helpfully distinguishes between what characters are thinking and what they are saying.

Die Fledermaus continues through June 28 at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road. The running time is approximately 2 hours 35 minutes, including one 25-minute intermission.

—Gerry Kowarsky

Photo © Eric Woolsey
Gabriel Bon Eisenstein (Edward Nelson) flirts with his disguised wife, Rosalinde (Sara Gartland) at Prince Orlofsky’s party in Die Fledermaus.