Synopsis: Maurice Picking’s  factory farm for cattle in rural Ohio, faces imminent bank foreclosure. With only a trophy wife and a slow-witted man child as laborers Maurice invents a machine to quickly slaughter his entire herd. Trouble unfolds when his long-lost daughter Flavia Taste, a militant animal rights activist, returns to sabotage her father’s operation. As events spin out of control Flavia is forced to confront the practicality of her puritanical worldview.

Note from the Composer: There is no way to live in our society with completely clean hands because the use of animals as commodities is inextricably interwoven with our societies and historical success as a species. That creates a paradigm in which everyone must decide for themselves what an acceptable amount of suffering is, a decision dictated not only by ethics but by social and financial factors as well. A large impetus for writing this story was to investigate both the beauty and danger of fanatical belief and the moral righteousness of youth; a study of how our identities are defined by the issues and beliefs we hold dear. – Rudolf Rojahn, composer (Click here to read more.)

Ensemble:
Kim Soby, soprano (FLAVIA)
Aliana de la Guardia, soprano (EUNICE/ BENSON)
Patrick Massey, tenor (MAURICE/ LUSK)
Brian Church, baritone (CLEM)
Amy Advocat, bass-clarinet
Ethan Wood, violin
Kent O’Doherty, saxophone
Mike Williams, percussion

EVENTS

Meet the Composer: Enjoy an evening of wine and hors d’eauvres with composer Rudolf Rojahn and the cast and ensemble of the world premiere of his upcoming dark comedy Bovinus Rex! Friday, April 27th.

This event is now over. Thank you to everyone who came and contributed to our production of Bovinus Rex. Please enjoy some of our free events happening after each performance.

Talk-backs: (Free with admission) Directly following performances on May 25th and 26th with the composer, director, and Guerilla Opera ensemble at The Boston Conservatory’s Zack Box Theater.

Opening Night Reception: (Free with admission) Celebrate the world premiere of Bovinus Rex immediately following the world premiere performance on May 24th!

Closing Night Reception: ($60.00, reservation required) Celebrate the closing Bovinus Rex at reception immediately following the final performance on May 27th. At the Sheraton Boston’s Side Bar Lounge (39 Dalton Street, Boston, MA 02199).

Special Thanks

Guerilla Opera’s 2012-2013 season is made possible through the generosity of our Premiere Production Underwriters Timothy & Jane Gillette, Silken Audio, and The Boston Conservatory where Guerilla Opera is an Ensemble-in-Residence.

Synopsis: Inspired by medieval morality plays, Loose, Wet, Perforated is the tale of “Loose” and “Wet,” who undergo various contests to climb rank in their Guild system. Through good deeds and intentions one descends to isolation and despair, and the other rises to fame and fortune by way of ruthlessness and violence.

Photos © 2011 Stephanie J. Patalano

Note from the Composer: Loose, Wet, Perforated is a contemporary version of the medieval morality play, full of all the moral relativism which that implies. A kaleidoscope of genres- tragedy, comedy, self-reflexive farce, academic treatise, cheap erotica- it endeavors to make sense of a post-ethical, post-analytical world. (Nicholas Vines)

Ensemble:
Aliana de la Guardia as LOOSE
Jonathan Nussman as WET
Rebekah Alexander as PERFORATED
Jan Zimmerman as VARIOUS
Rane Moore (clarinets)
Kent O’Doherty (saxophone)
Chris Reade (trombone)
Mike Williams (percussion)

Special Thanks

This world premiere production of “Loose, Wet, Perforated” is made possible through the generosity of our Premiere Production Underwriters Timothy & Jane Gillette, and The Boston Conservatory where Guerilla Opera is an Ensemble-in-Residence and performs in the Zack Box Theater.