Mark Narins "Theresa Kren" Act II scene 1 'The Ball Game'

It begins with the last bars of the prelude to Act II (Children's March) as an introduction. In the previous Act little Theresa Kren, who has been resurrected from the grave by her mother, Rebekah, escaped the clutches of the character Fate. Fate appeared just after Theresa was resurrected and tries every trick he knows to get Theresa back from her parents and return with her to the realm of the dead. Rebekah outwits Fate by pretending to seduce him and then temporarily blinding him. At the very end of Act I Theresa escapes the clutches of Fate and runs off in the direction of the village where she once lived.
At the beginning of Act II her mother Rebekah calls out for her to come back, that Fate is no longer there and that it is safe to return. The orchestra plays the children's march in which Theresa marches back on stage to the graveyard. She is followed by all her former playmates from the village who are thrilled she is back. Following these children are all their parents dressed in their variety of work clothes representing all the different vocations in the village. They are astounded and distressed by the sight of the resurrected Theresa. When the children's march ends the entire village is on stage with Theresa, Rebekah and Theresa's father Jakob.
The children shout "THERESA, LET'S PLAY!" and we see a ball lobbed into the air and bounce on the stage. The bouncing sound is represented by the sound of glissandi in the timpani. The first part of the scene is concerned with the children's happiness at having Theresa back and playing a ball game with her. As the scene progresses it is clear that the parents of the other children are disturbed that Theresa is back from the grave and urge their children not to play with her. The kids defend their friend Theresa. The parents become more agitated and start to surround Theresa and taunt her and tell her to "Go back where she came from".
The crowd becomes more agitated to the point where it seems that Theresa is in danger. The scene ends as Rebekah intercedes to protect Theresa from the mob. She pleads with them and reminds them that her Theresa is just like any other child. She reminds them that she herself had nursed their children when they were sick. Their children lived while hers died. The mood of the crowd changes from aggression and fear to empathy.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mark Narins
• Classical Music
• opera
• Theresa
• Kren
• chorus
• Choir

[sll10]

Very imaginative and evocative. Bravo!

[raystaar]

Really impressive, Mark. Brilliant.