Jackson Free Press

It's been about seven decades since home audiences gathered around their wood-grained Zenith radios, tuning their dials past the static to find the weekend radio plays. Before television, radio dominated home entertainment, and genres were as diverse as American tastes. "Little Orphan Annie," "Dick Tracy," Shakespeare, live recordings of Count Basie's Orchestra, and Orson Welles' dramas dominated radio during its golden age. Even opera slipped into the airwaves, as composers attempted to bring the "high arts" into living rooms nationwide.

Jacksonians will have a chance to experience this era Nov. 5 and 7 at Duling Hall, when the Mississippi Opera puts on a radio opera called "The Old Maid and the Thief" in front of a live audience. Gian Carlo Menotti—an Italian-American librettist and composer who was instrumental in bridging the gap between the "high art" of opera and the popular entertainment of the day—composed the opera.

"It originally premiered in 1939," says Edward Dacus, the artistic director for Mississippi Opera. "But I think it stands the test of time. The characters are very recognizable."

Dacus says that, because the one-act radio opera is composed in English and examines the comical side to small-town gossip, it should be accessible to a 21st-century audience.

The basic storyline follows a righteous "old maid," Miss Todd, and her housemaid, Laetitia, as they receive an unexpected guest named Bob. He's the wanderer who wins over Laetitia's affections while taking temporary residence in Miss Todd's home. Miss Pinkerton, a neighbor of Miss Todd's and a catalyst for local gossip, throws her own rumors into the mix when she hears of an escaped convict who has recently been in the area, causing Miss Todd to believe that she is harboring a thief.

Of course, Laetitia vehemently opposes to Bob being forced out of the home, and a series of comically energized scenes take place as the women try to keep their guest content and out of the public eye—especially to protect Miss Todd's reputation in the community.

"The trend is to do this work as it was originally intended," Dacus says.

Although this won't be broadcast on radio, audiences will be able to see how such plays were put together and how they challenged performers to solely use their voice to bring the story to life. Dacus will use two "old-fashioned" microphones on a fairly minimal set, with a small orchestra composed of members of Mississippi Symphony Orchestra nearby. A radio announcer will deliver expository notes between scenes as well as sound effects when needed.

"Typical operatic singing, or singing without the aid of amplification, can be expected, but it's also in English," Dacus says. "It's really very humorous, and Menotti is one of the few operatic composers of the 20th century whose works are still performed regularly."

Cast members for "The Old Maid and the Thief" include Viola Dacus (Professor Dacus' wife) as "Miss Todd," James Turcotte as "Wanderer" or "Bob," Rebecca Geishlee-Chittom as "Laetitia" and Kim Griffing Porter as "Miss Pinkerton."

"These are all seasoned singers and actors who should be able to really make their characters come alive to the audience," Dacus says.

"The Old Maid and the Thief" plays Nov. 5 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). Tickets are $30. To purchase, call Mississippi Opera at 601-960-2300 or visit msopera.org.