Some photos of our recent production... March 4-5, 2000

ACT I

At the Church of San Andrea della Valle, escaped prisoner Cesare Angelotti (Peter Heiman) searches for the key which his sister has left him...

The Sacristan (John Costello) asks some sightseers (from left: Leilah Kushner, Dorothy Bacon and D’André Williams) to leave the church for the siesta.

Then he busies himself with midday prayers...

Mario Cavaradossi (Ross Solomon), an artist, enters to continue work on his painting of the Mary Magdalene...

He compares the blonde beauty of the Magdalene to the dark beauty of his beloved Tosca.

Discovering the escaped prisoner as Cesare Angelotti, the head of the toppled Roman Republic, Mario promises him aid in his escape. But they are interrupted by the arrival of Tosca...

Arriving at the church with the excuse of bringing flowers to the Madonna, Tosca (Karen Suchy) checks on Mario’s progress.

After laying the flowers at the foot of the Madonna, Tosca tells Mario that they will be able to spend the evening together after she sings a short concert.

Amid many protestations of love — and the color of the Magdalene’s eyes — Tosca leaves Mario to continue his work on the painting...

At the sound of a cannon shot from the Castel Sant’Angelo — the prison from which Angelotti has escaped — Mario decides to accompany the fugitive to a foolproof hiding place in his garden...

The Sacristan spreads the news — joyous to some — that Napoleon has been defeated at Marengo, in celebration of which there will be a Te Deum in which they will all take part. (The Chorus — from left: Leilah Kushner, Christa Damaris, Dorothy Bacon, Andrew Martens, D’André Williams, Sandy Brandman, Judy Costello, Kathleen Corke, Samuel Gordon and Zach Brandman.)

The festivities abruptly end as Baron Scarpia (Dennis Gurwitt) (at right), the Chief of Police enters with Sciarrone (Joshua Parrillo) (at left) in search of the escaped Cesare Angelotti...

A search of the premises yields an empty lunch basket and a fan. The basket proves that someone besides the painter has been in the church; the fan shall be used to flush out the quarry...

Flattery and lies about Mario cause Tosca to doubt his fidelity....

The fabrication that the fan was found on his scaffold raises her jealous nature to the boiling point...

Overwrought, Tosca first rages, then gives in to despair...

[A detail of the altarpiece executed by Costume Armour, Cornwall, NY.] A Priest (Andrew Martens) officiates as the church fills with people for the Te Deum.

“Follow her,” Scarpia instructs Sciarrone, “Then meet me at the Palazzo Farnese.” To Tosca he sings, “Go, Tosca. Now the name of Scarpia is etched on your heart!”

“Both of them shall be mine: a traitor hanging on the gallows and Tosca, full of passion in my arms!”

“Tosca, you make me forget God!”

 

More pictures to come, please come back soon...

 

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