03/04/2024
Oswego Opera will be presenting the children’s opera Brundibár at the Frances Marion Brown Theater, Friday, April 5th at 7:30 PM, Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 Pm, and Sunday, April 7th, at 2:00 PM.
Brundibár is a poignant and historically significant children's opera that emerged from the darkest period of human history - the Holocaust. Composed by Hans Krása, Brundibár was performed over 50 times in the Terezín concentration camp located in German-occupied Czechoslovakia.
The simple plot revolves around poor two siblings, Eloise and Annette, who need to buy milk for their sick mother. They decide to sing in the town square, but they encounter Brundibár, the bullying busker, who drives them away because he wants the square for himself. The children seek help from various animals and local children, they outwit Brundibár, claim their place in the square, and get the needed money.
Brundibár carries profound allegorical significance as it symbolizes the resilience of the human spirit against oppression and injustice. The struggle against Brundibár represents the fight against the forces of fascism during World War II, with the children embodying hope, solidarity, and the power of collective action.
Many of the children who participated in the Terezín performances were later deported to Auschwitz and other extermination camps, and most perished. But the legacy of Brundibár continues as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of art in the face of tyranny.
The production will feature a small ensemble, and will feature Annilea Murphy as Eloise, Katie Auler as Annette, Megan Adelman as Brundibár, Helen McDonald as the sparrow, Lexi Prosser as the cat, and Abby Adelman as the dog.
The production is part of a double bill, along with “The Arkansaw Bear” – a children’s play that blends realism and fantasy, pathos, and humor.
Tickets are available at the Players’ Ticket Office at (315) 343-5138, or online by clicking here.
