Entertainment: Lyric Opera of Chicago Hansel and Gretel a sheer delight

Photo:Cory Weaver/LyricOpera

By Dwight Casimere

Glorious! Delightful! Those were just a few of the superlatives emanating from the opening night audience at the conclusion of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s eye-popping revival of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel at the Civic Opera House now through Feb. 5. For information visit Lyricopera.org.

Revival Director is Eric Einhorn, who previously mounted the production in Lyric’s 2012/13-subscription season.

Traditionally presented during the Holiday Season, the timing of this presentation could not have been better. Humperdinck’s imaginative take on the Brother’s Grimm fairy tale is just the tonic for today’s doom and gloom headlines.

With newly-named Music Director Emeritus Sir Andrew Davis at the podium, the Lyric Opera orchestra set out with a spirited rendition of the opera overture, a portent of what was to unfold onstage.

Set and Costume Designer John Macfarlane pulled out all the stops. A cadre of white uniformed chefs and Brooks Brothered trees were just a few of the fantasy touches. The fish head butler in a tuxedo was my favorite.

There were no gingerbread houses or creepy forests in this production. Director Einhorn went straight to the business at hand with a terrific cast and snappy choreography by Linda Dobell that rivaled anything at the nearby Cadillac Palace.

Mezzo-soprano Jill Grove as the evil witch who likes to turn children into gingerbread gave the Barefoot Contessa a run for her money. Soprano Heidi Stober as Gretel and mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey in the pants role as Hansel took their respective roles through a breezy romp as they performed their high jinx.

Chorus Master Josephine Lee and her United Voices of Chicago, formerly Chicago Children’s Choir, added to the enchantment. Their vocalizations in the final scene were sheer magic. There are only a handful of performances remaining through Feb. 5 at the Civic Opera House. Visit lyricopera.org.