Stage Review - Amahl and the Night Visitors
“The Solos, Duets, Trios and All the Numbers Were Beautifully Performed.”
(12/5/2008) By Gerlind Dubey

Performed live to a full house, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellicottville, “Amahl” was the perfect show to usher in the Christmas season. This wonderful rendition of Amahl and the night Visitors was directed by Katherine Black. Black added humor to this Christmas Opera, which gave it a beautiful and moving interpretation from start to finish. Black also played the mother of Amahl, her magnificent soprano voice engaging the audience from the start as she shows the strong and loving relationship between mother and son. Liam O’Rourke is the ECS 8th grade boy who played Amahl, his strong boy soprano voice soars when he sings his part in this operetta and his acting was as fantastic as his singing. John Burrell played the comically deaf, Kaspar, getting a multitude of laughter while doing so. The other leads did a great job acting their roles and they have superior voices, too. The kings and the shepherds entered from the back of the Church for their scenes on stage, making use of the whole playing area. The chorus members and the dancers in this show were wonderful, performing some balletic movements to keep the crowd entertained.