by Jody-Tuso Key – Managing Editor

ATLANTA – Audiences in the Atlanta area are in for a fright at the Alliance Coca-Cola stage from now until October 1, 2023, as the Atlanta Opera teams up with Alliance Theater in a chilling production of THE SHINING, based on Steven King’s 1977 novel which was later made into a film in 1980 starring Jack Nicholson. This operatic version is true to the novel, and the choice to make this stage adaption an opera was a pitch-perfect match.

Based on the opening night audience reaction, this show is a success! Bravo to The Opera and Alliance and everyone involved in this production. I would suggest everyone get tickets immediately as they are selling out fast. If you’ve never been to an opera or feel it’s difficult to understand the vocals, don’t fret, there are subtitle screens on stage right, stage left, and above the proscenium.

With music composed by Paul Moravec (we sat next to him in the theater, he’s a humble, gracious, and delightful human) and a libretto by Mark Campbell, this adaptation hits the highs and lows musically at just the right dramatic moments. THE SHINING enjoyed its premiere performance in May of 2016 at the Ordway Music Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota. We are fortunate that the Opera’s artistic director, Tomer Zvulun, pitched THE SHINING to Alliance artistic directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Christopher Moses and have this incredible Atlanta premiere as the season opener for both entities.

Kudos to the production team for creating an eerie atmosphere the likes of which I’ve never seen on stage. Scenic designer Jacquelyn Scott created a canvas with the set on which lighting designer Jim French and projection designer David Murakami painted an ominous boiler room and a gaggle of ghostly creatures coming and going in and out of the rooms on the interior landing at the top of the stairs. The outdoor scene at the opening created a clever 3-dimensional effect with the use of a scrim, projections, and lighting. the sound design by Jon Summers was expertly mixed and the sound effects with Danny’s possessed voice added an extra amount of chill.

If you aren’t familiar with the novel, I’ll offer a brief summary and try not to give too much away. this is the story of the Torrence family looking for a new start, choosing to spend the winter at the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies as the hotel’s sole caretakers. Jack Torrence is a writer plagued by his past which includes alcoholism and physical abuse. His wife, Wendy, wants to salvage their marriage and sees the move to the hotel as an opportunity or a second chance. Their son, Danny (also referred to as Doc) possesses the gift of ESP (extra sensory perception). As the family is given a tour of the hotel by the staff, the hotel chef, Dick Halloran, is able to detect Danny’s gift. Dick’s grandmother had the gift and called it “The Shining”. Dick is working at a hotel in Florida for the winter but tells Danny if he has any trouble, to use his powers to call and Dick will come back. As the months go by, the isolation takes a toll on the family. The hotel has had its share of murder, death, and suicide in its illustrious past, and the ghosts reveal themselves to Jack. One ghost in particular, Delbert Grady, who killed his wife and two girls and then took his own life, encourages Jack to “correct” Wendy and Danny as he feels they have been disobedient. Jack allows the hotel and its guests to take over his soul, and Wendy and Danny are forced to defend their lives against him.

The opera is double cast in the roles of Jack Torrance (Craig Irvin/Thomas Glass), Wendy Torrance (Kelly Kaduce/Kearstin Piper Brown), Danny Torrance (Max Walls/Adrienne Ocfemia), and Dick Halloran (Kevin Deas/Aubrey Allicock). Opening night featured the first names, and Kelly Kaduce reprised her role as Wendy from the original St. Paul premiere. Her voice is astounding with a range of volume from rich and powerful to beautifully thin and quiet. She captures the strength and emotion of Wendy with a spectacular performance. Craig Irvin as the tormented Jack Torrance delivers a stellar performance and is believable as a man who is as penitent as he is possessed. Max Walls’s portrayal of Danny was impressive–a very demanding role for a child, and they executed it very well. Kevin Deas as Dick Halloran has a rich and robust bass-baritone and is perfect for the role of a caring and kind hero and protector of Danny and Wendy.

Other key-noteworthy performances include Victor Ryan Robinson as Stuart Ullman/Delbert Grady, Kameron Lopreore as Bill Watson/Lloyd, and Gabrielle Bennet, Tabitha Lawling, and Phoebe Rose Claeys as Mrs. Grady and her daughters. The ensemble creates an impressive blend of eerie harmonies when onstage together.

While I usually open a review with my personal connection to the material, I decided to let the opera speak for itself and reserve my memories of the source material for the end of this review. I first read THE SHINING after I saw the movie in 1980. I was 13 at the time, and got into the rated R movie with my sister’s ID. I’m a wimp when it comes to horror movies, but this one was more of an intellectual thriller, and it became a personal favorite. I have to admit I was skeptical of a musical adaptation of this work, but shows such as Sweeny Todd prove that gory subject matter when done correctly makes for good theater. The adaptation of this masterpiece into opera is genius. This show is both Speakeysie HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and a Speakeysie HOT TICKET! You don’t want to miss this groundbreaking piece, and as mentioned before, tickets are selling out fast, so get yours ASAP at https://www.atlantaopera.org/tickets/