“Blue” at Lyric – Life, Loss, Lament

By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel

The area premiere of the intense “Blue” at the Civic Opera House demonstrates the wide range of emotion that can happen in a life together as a couple and bringing your child up in the modern day. A man in his youth who then begins his career, meets a lady, they marry and have a boy. They work through the challenges of a headstrong teen. This panorama of prodigy, brilliantly written by librettist Tazewell Thompson (who also directs) and composer Jeanine Tesori, conducted stridently by the baton of Joseph Young, takes the audience most credibly on the proverbial roller coaster of stirring feelings.

Kenneth Kellogg plays the father in a role tailored – literally – for him; Chicago native Zoie Reams is strong as the mother living it. Travon D. Walker delivers as the son in his third Lyric role this season, and veteran Norman Garrett’s Reverend walking through the journey with them is most present. The three girlfriends of the mother, played by soprano Ariana Wheir (her Civic Opera House debut), soprano Adia Evans, and mezzo Krysty Swann, are astounding, loaded with vibrato, and even, at times, jazzy. Terrence Chin-Loy, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes, and Christopher Humpert, Jr. give excellent performances as the three co-workers of the father.

This engaging work is intimate fodder for thought on society and humanity – most compelling. “Blue” ends its run December 1st, so please visit www.lyricopera.org for tickets or more information.

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