Faye Dunaway is masterful in Master Class
Faye Dunaway (right) portrays Maria Callas in Master Class, Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play, directed by Leonard Foglia. Kevin Paul Anderson (left) plays the role of Tony. Photo by Joan Marcus
    The last time I remember paying much attention to Faye Dunaway was in 1967. I was an 11-year-old in the back of the family car watching the second feature of a double-bill at a local drive-in. The movie, of course, was Bonnie and Clyde and Dunaway went on to receive an Oscar nomination for that film.
    Now, 30 years later, Dunaway continues her incredible career, starring as opera singer Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play Master Class.
    Master Class runs through Sunday, Aug.31, at the Sacramento Community Center Theater as part of the Sacramento Light Opera Association's Broadway Series.
    Dunaway plays the Greek-born Callas perfectly in this National Tour production, which uses a small cast and simple set to beautifully portray Callas as she conducts a master class for talented young opera hopefuls.
    At age 14, Callas became a pupil of soprano Elvira de Hidalgo at the Athens Conservatory. Four years later she made her debut in Athens as Tosca and then toured all through Italy. Her greatest acclaim came in the revival of the bel canto operas by Donizetti and Bellini.
    Norma was her best bel canto role, singing it at her debut in London in 1952, Chicago in 1954 and New York in 1956.
    In Master Class, Callas' greatest roles are behind her. Now she teaches operatic hopefuls the style and technique needed to make it big on stage. But at the same time she learns some unexpected things from her pupils.
Faye Dunaway as Maria Callas. Photo by Joan Marcus
    The set for Master Class is simple - a classroom auditorium - where the cast, especially Dunaway's Callas, acknowledges the audience in attendance, watching the featured master class performances.
    Dunaway's dialogue to the audience is both humorous and poignant, giving the audience an insight into what Callas was all about.
    Some of the funniest moments come at the expense of Callas' master class pupils as she constantly interrupts them, critiques their singing and at times, talks as if they aren't even there.
    The play revolves around Callas and three pupils: an overweight soprano named Sophie De Palma (Melinda Klump); another soprano named Sharon Graham (Suzan Hanson), who Callas thinks has too many "feelings" to succeed; and a talented tenor named Anthony Candolino (Kevin Paul Anderson), who is out to take the operatic world by storm.
    Each student in turn comes on stage to sing in front of Callas, receive critique and, hopefully, praise from their teacher.
    Dunaway's "Greek" accent is sometimes difficult to follow, but enough words come through to keep the audience in tune with the production.
    During both De Palma's and Graham's performances, Callas flashes back to her days on stage singing the same opera and her life surrounding her career. At one point the Community Center is suddenly transformed into an opera house via projections on the walls - an effect that came suddenly and left the audience in awe.
    Candolino, who Callas first thinks is arrogant and unlikely to succeed, is finally coaxed by Callas into delivering a touching rendition of "Recondita Armonia" from Tosca - leaving Callas in tears and the audience enchanted by the changes that overcome this young singer as he is coached by Callas.
    All the performances in Master Class are truly outstanding - especially Dunaway's - as the actress flawlessly delivered nearly three hours of constant dialogue.
    Rounding out the six person cast are Gary Green as Manny, the pianist, and Scott Davidson as the stagehand.
    Dunaway received a well-deserved and extended standing ovation at the end of the production that saw her and the rest of the cast return to the stage twice more before the audience would finally let them go.
    Master Class runs through Sunday, Aug. 31 at the Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street at the comer of 13th and L streets. The 8 p.m. performances run through Saturday, Aug. 30, and 2 p.m. matinee performances are Thursday, Aug. 28, Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31.
    Ticket prices range from $15 to $55. To reserve tickets contact the Broadway Series Box Office at (916) 557-1999, the Community Center Box Office at (916) 264-5181, or any BASS Outlet at (916) 923-BASS.
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