Daughter of the Regiment explores themes of sacrifice, masculinity, and group. 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 individual
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Lately, if there’s something we can’t deny, it’s the variety of modifications which have make clear outdated concepts and stereotypes, together with these pressured on us by schooling about gender.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 way in which for a boy to turn into a “man.”
On this comedy, the well-known Twenty-first Regiment finds and adopts an deserted child woman. This may lead us to consider that Marie will turn into a manly character. However why can’t we think about a extra female regiment? Amid warfare and loneliness, why wouldn’t an toddler convey 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 girls can solely marry respected males. Historical fortunes ignored love and educated their descendants to simply accept their fates. The Berkenfelds will be part of the Krakenthorps, and society might 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 be taught that in her youth she was prepared to sacrifice every thing for love. The value was too excessive, and for years, she has accepted her destiny as a type of cynical punishment. Sins should be cleansed. But she holds the important thing for change, and on the proper second, she takes the brave step once more: she won’t sacrifice Marie to uphold outdated concepts. She’s going to give the younger woman the prospect 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, quit, surrender, injure, or destroy particularly for a really perfect, perception, or finish
What are we prepared to sacrifice for others? The great thing about this comedy is that each character is prepared to alter for the sake of the others.
Tonio was prepared to sacrifice his life to assist a stranger as she recklessly collected flowers within the mountains. Whereas saving the woman from falling to her loss of life, Tonio fell in love. In a time of division and nationalism, this boy and woman may even sacrifice their nationalities; in any case, 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 commerce, not a sacrifice: they’re beautiful and proud fathers. Marie was prepared 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 part of the circulation 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.
