Daughter of the Regiment explores themes of sacrifice, masculinity, and neighborhood. Chía Patiño, Director for our November manufacturing of Daughter of the Regiment, leans into these themes in her interpretation of the light-hearted story of selecting love over obligation. Discover her ideas within the Director’s Notes beneath.
mas•cu•line: one thing that’s masculine
a: a male particular person
b (1): a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional type or class of the masculine gender
(2): the masculine gender
mas•cu•line: male; sturdy, virile
Lately, if there’s something we can not deny, it’s the variety of modifications which have make clear outdated concepts and stereotypes, together with these pressured on us by training about gender. Myths. Any confused dictionary will fail because it tries to outline genders. I grew up in a rustic the place “males don’t cry,” and “macho-tough” is the best way for a boy to change into a “man.”
On this comedy, the well-known Twenty-first Regiment finds and adopts an deserted child lady. This may lead us to imagine that Marie will change into a manly character. However why can’t we think about a extra female regiment? Amid struggle and loneliness, why wouldn’t an toddler deliver out—for lack of a greater phrase—the moms within the troopers? Can a powerful soldier even be a young, caring father? Easy reply: sure!
After which a second impediment: as destiny would have it, Marie comes from a good household, and respected ladies can solely marry respected males. Historical fortunes ignored love and educated their descendants to just accept their fates. The Berkenfelds will be a part of the Krakenthorps, and society can be joyful. All of the fathers will attempt to save their daughter, however a powerful aunt will cease them. Bloodlines will prevail.
And simply then, the hardest character softens, and we study that in her youth she was keen to sacrifice every little thing for love. The worth was too excessive, and for years, she has accepted her destiny as a type of cynical punishment. Sins have to be cleansed. But she holds the important thing for change, and on the proper second, she takes the brave step once more: she is not going to sacrifice Marie to uphold outdated concepts. She is going to give the younger lady the possibility she was denied. This girl turns into the strongest character on stage.
sac•ri•fice a: to supply as a sacrifice
b: to endure lack of, hand over, surrender, injure, or destroy particularly for a great, perception, or finish
What are we keen to sacrifice for others? The great thing about this comedy is that each character is keen to alter for the sake of the others.
Tonio was keen to sacrifice his life to assist a stranger as she recklessly collected flowers within the mountains. Whereas saving the lady from falling to her loss of life, Tonio fell in love. In a time of division and nationalism, this boy and lady may also sacrifice their nationalities; in spite of everything, what’s the level of upholding custom if it means sacrificing the items that love brings?
The Twenty-first Regiment exchanged their hard-shell hearts for tenderness. This was a great commerce, not a sacrifice: they’re beautiful and proud fathers. Marie was keen to sacrifice her love to assist her mom. That sacrifice lastly shook the Marquise, and outdated expectations crumbled, as they need to. As a result of as soon as ideas show to be archaic, dictionaries ought to cease defining them. In instances of change, it’s not the fittest that survive, however those that perceive the change and be a part of the circulate of the river. Far behind we’ll spot a small island the place the Duchess will try for vengeance, and Hortensius will uphold his wine…
Notes written by Chía Patiño, Stage Director for Opera Colorado’s 2024 manufacturing of Daughter of the Regiment.
